Alien species: the picture of success? Alien species invading new habitats with human help is a global problem. These alien species can seriously upset the local natural balance, reduce biodiversity, affect the economy, and endanger human health. Alien species are species that have spread beyond their natural range with the intentional or unintentional assistance of humans. However, species that...

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food sectors in the world, producing an estimated half of the protein from fish consumption About 15.7% of the animal protein consumed worldwide comes from fish. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that aquaculture accounts for half of this percentage and is projected to reach 65% by the end of 2030. [1] In the...

Socioeconomic mapping and assessment of terrestrial ecosystems Countrywide mapping and assessment of the of the condition and services of the main natural and semi-natural terrestrial ecosystems was initiated at the end of 2018 and completed in 2020 in the course of the national MAES project ELME [1]. This first stage is also called ELME1. In 2021–2023 further methodological refinement and updates...

Mapping and assessment of the base levels of condition and services Countrywide mapping and assessment of the of the condition and services of the main natural and semi-natural terrestrial ecosystems was initiated at the end of 2018 and completed in 2020 in the course of the national MAES project ELME [1]. The consortium consisted of scientists (University of Tartu, Estonian University of Life...

The diversity of our food depends largely on the existence of pollinators Pollinators are insects or other animals that, by carrying pollen from the anthers to the stigma, pollinate the plant, and thus allow the plants to bear fruit. Pollinators include bees, bumblebees, butterflies, flies, and beetles, as well as birds, rodents, and bats. It is estimated that there are more than 20,000 different...