As at 31 December 2024, there were a total of 4506 protected natural objects in Estonia. That is 51 objects more than in the previous year. In the following, the difference in the number of objects compared to 2023 is shown in brackets. The more detailed breakdown by type is as follows: nature reserves – 242 (no change ↔); landscape protection areas – 150 (no change ↔); national parks – 6 (no...

The aim of the fisheries agreements is cooperation on the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources and the fight against illegal fishing Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), adopted in 1982, states have the right to control fishing in the waters adjacent to their coasts. Under the convention, countries are required to conclude reciprocal fisheries agreements...

The aim of the agreements is to regulate cooperation between countries on the sea, with the main emphasis of combating marine pollution There are many agreements for the protection of the seas in the world. Estonia has joined several of them [1]. The aim of the agreements is to regulate cooperation between countries on the sea, with the main emphasis of combating marine pollution. The most...

The Estonian-Russian transboundary waters require close and practical cooperation In 1995, Estonia acceded to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, adopted three years earlier in Helsinki. The purpose of the convention is to protect international lakes and transboundary waters from transboundary environmental impacts and pollution, and to...

The purpose of the Ramsar Convention is to protect the wetlands of the world, which are in danger of disappearing due to drainage, pollution, and economic uses Each year, on 2 February, the World Wetlands Day is celebrated. On that date in the year 1971, the convention for the protection of the world’s wetlands was signed in Ramsar, Iran. The convention entered into force in 1975. The purpose of...

The purpose of the convention is to protect the whale populations The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling aims to protect whale populations and ensure the sustainability of whaling. The convention was signed and entered into force in 1946 in Washington. Estonia acceded to the convention in 2008. As at 2022, 88 countries have acceded to the convention [1]. The International...

Natural genetic diversity is protected either in situ (in nature, in the species’ natural habitat) or ex situ (outside its natural habitat, under farm conditions) Genetic diversity is protected both as natural diversity and as agricultural genetic diversity or other genetic diversity necessary for humans (crops, pets, medicinal plants, etc.). Natural genetic diversity is protected either in situ...

National support measures are needed to preserve indigenous breeds Six local endangered breeds have been officially recognised in Estonia: Estonian native cattle and the Estonian Native horse, the Estonian Draft horse and the old (universal direction) population of the Tori horse, the Estonian quail and the Kihnu native sheep [1]. Preservation of the breeds suitable for Estonia as well as genetic...

Wild animals that have moved to the city can also cope without human help In cities, many wild animals have found a habitat next to humans – due to the easy availability of food and the lack of natural enemies. Fortunately, bears do not check out trash cans in Estonia (like they do in Canada, for example), but food waste does attract foxes and other smaller animals. When you see hedgehogs and...

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...