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...

New species are constantly being added to the list of Estonian species Species that naturally expand their range are spreading to Estonia. This is being accelerated by global climate change, which is affecting the distribution, abundance, and characteristics of species throughout the world and is also creating favourable conditions for those species that have not been able to cope in Estonia so...

Due to its location, Estonia is on the border of the range of many species, which is why we have more species compared to the northern, western, and eastern areas According to data from the eElurikkus portal, more than 30,000 species are known in Estonia, but it is estimated that there are more than 40,000 species. The constantly updated information about them is gathered in the single database...

It is estimated that there are more than 40,000 species in Estonia The systematics of nature is based on the assumption that living beings form more or less different units – taxons. The central taxon, or the basic unit of systematics, is a species. A species is a set of organisms that are similar in some way. Members of a species are able to produce offspring with each other, but are generally...

There are 60 habitat types in Estonia that we must protect and preserve on Estonian territory The pan-European Natura 2000 network of protected areas was established on the basis of the European Union (EU) Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive. Annex I of the Habitats Directive lists the natural habitat types in need of protection. Areas that occur in different locations but have similar...

A habitat (biotope, ecotope) is a set of natural conditions that is necessary for a species or its population to live in that place. The European Union’s Habitats Directive defines the habitat types that must be protected in the Natura 2000 sites. Jaanus Paal has adapted the classifications of these habitat types [1] to the Estonian conditions, based on his own classification of Estonian habitat...

Soil erosion causes the loss of 25–40 billion tonnes of soil worldwide every year It is estimated that three square kilometres of soil are destroyed every day in Europe [1]. Due to urbanisation and road construction, an area of around 200,000 square kilometres in Europe, or the size of the United Kingdom, has lost its function permanently. The global economic damage from deforestation and land...