Most of the alien terrestrial species have been brought to Estonia on purpose Each species has its own potential entry routes, depending on the characteristics of the species and the habitat, but some modes of spreading are suitable for many species. Alien water species spread mainly in the ballast water tanks of various watercraft (ships) or on the outer surface of the hull. About 80% of the...

The economic damage caused by alien species in the European Union is estimated at 12 billion euros a year An alien species is a species that humans have intentionally (for ornamental purposes, for fur) or accidentally (with the bilge water of ships) removed from its normal range. The species would not have reached the new range on its own (due to changes of the climate or by currents). While in...

In Estonia, there are 100 species mentioned in the Habitats Directive and 219 hatching bird species listed in the Birds Directive Natura 2000 is a pan-European network of protected areas established by the European Union’s Birds Directive and Habitats Directive. While the Birds Directive aims to protect all species of birds living naturally in the European Union by creating bird areas, the...

The protection of an endangered species alone will not increase its abundance. Conservation action is also needed The effectiveness of species protection is demonstrated by the Red List, which lets us know which species are doing poorly and which have improved. Examples of success stories According to 1988 data, the common crane was rare in Estonia. Today, however, it is in the ‘least concern’...

As of 2025, 570 species are protected in Estonia Based on their endangerment, protected species are divided into three protected categories on the basis of the Nature Conservation Act . Protected category I species are at high risk of extinction and the exact details of their habitats or sites are not disclosed in the media. This category includes, for example, all Estonian eagle species, the...

The main objective of species protection is to ensure the favourable status of all naturally occurring species Each species has a role to play in the biosphere. Due to the abundance of species and their roles, overall biodiversity is preserved. Unfortunately, many species have become endangered or extinct as a result of human activity or other causes. Today, species go extinct 100–1,000 times...

Estonian protected species are divided into three categories according to their endangerment and the strictness of their protection It is estimated that there are almost 40,000 species of biota in Estonia. So far, just over 30,000, or about 75%, have been found. The other nearly 10,000 species, or more than 25% of the biota, are undiscovered so far, although they are mostly known to science. The...

In the course of Estonia’s fifth regional endangerment assessment (2017–2019), more than 13,500 species were assessed The Red List is a database that compiles assessments of the endangerment and extinction risk of species. The Red List (formerly known in Estonian as the Red Book) helps scientists and conservationists better plan species conservation activities and assess their effectiveness...

How do plants and animals get an Estonian name? Although a name is not quite the same as a designation, they are usually not distinguished in colloquial language. A name is given to an actual being, such as calling a dog Max or an oak the Viiralt oak, while designation is a general term, such as a dog or an oak. Estonian names for beings are terms that are created or organised by terminology...

How much has the mammal fauna in Estonia changed? The number of known mammal species in Estonia has increased by 30% since the end of World War II, from 46 to 66 species. There are many reasons for this change. Firstly, some species have probably lived here for a long time, but they have not been discovered before. Secondly, some species have arrived in Estonia quite recently, either independently...