The need for biosafety was recognised as soon as the first GMO was created The term biosafety (sometimes also biological safety) has several meanings in Estonian. In a narrower sense, it means the prevention of diseases, poisonings, or allergies caused by biological organisms. This approach is used in the fields of food safety [1] and occupational health [2], as well as laboratory rules [3]...

Most of the species that once existed on Earth are extinct The concept of extinct biodiversity includes species that have disappeared from the planet. Most of the species that at some point existed on Earth (99.9%) are extinct. Many of them have disappeared as a result of mass extinctions due to sudden global environmental changes. At the same time, the extinction of species for various...

There are two general goals – the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia establishes that the natural wealth and resources of Estonia are national riches which must be used sustainably. This requirement serves as basis for nature conservation goals. More specifically, the field of nature conservation is governed by the...

Bats usually end up in residential buildings from late spring to autumn Bats often live close to humans in cities and towns. It is common for them to spend the days in the attics, but some species like cramped conditions, so they squeeze themselves through openings a few centimetres wide, either under lining boards or into some wooden cracks. It may happen that a bat flies into a room and can no...

Be sure to not let the unwanted passenger get away Fortunately, a large animal cannot fit in a suitcase, but some smaller animals, such as a scorpion, gecko, smaller reptile, cockroach, snail, or spider may accidentally hide in a bag and travel to Estonia. What should I do if I get back home from a trip and find an unwanted passenger in my bag? If you think the animal that accidentally ended up in...

It is not necessary to call the Estonian Rescue Board when you see a snake in the garden. You should give the reptile a chance to leave – it will do so quickly It is not necessary to call the Estonian Rescue Board when you see a snake in the garden. You should give the reptile a chance to leave – it will do so quickly. In the future, however, it is worth taking some measures to prevent snakes from...

It is better for nature if you do not buy exotic goods for which it is not known whether any endangered animal or plant was used to produce them When travelling to an exotic country, it is worth taking the time to find out which products can cause trouble with local law enforcement agencies and which can create a hassle in customs. Among other things, you should look at the limits set by CITES...

The primary purpose of hunting is no longer to stockpile meat and hides Wild game is a wild animal – a mammal or bird that lives freely in the wild. Game is a wild game whose meat, hide, or other parts are consumed and whose hunting is permitted by hunting rules [1]. The current Hunting Act, in turn, divides game into big and small game. Big game includes the moose, red deer, roe deer, wild boar...

A person who knows better does not bring alien species to Estonia. The Ministry of the Environment must be notified immediately of any alien species released into or discovered in the wild Species know no borders, so preventing the spread of alien species must be addressed at individual, national, and international levels. At the international level, a number of conventions and agreements deal...

The state pays a number of grants and compensations for the protection and conservation of nature. Some of them are operating grants, some are compensations for not managing communities In order to protect nature, several subsidies and compensations are paid in Estonia from both the state budget and European Union (EU) funds. These include operating grants (e.g. support for the maintenance of semi...