The difficult journey of the control of alien species: the giant hogweed and Sosnowsky’s hogweed in Estonia? Systematic control of alien species in Estonia began with two species of hogweed: the giant hogweed and Sosnowsky’s hogweed. They were brought to us mainly as silage during the Soviet era, but have proved to be troublesome nuisances that have now been controlled for more than a decade. The...

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...

The control of the alien species of hogweed plants and the copper tops is currently organised nationwide The most effective measures of combating alien species are the early detection of alien species, the rapid dissemination of information, and the rapid eradication of the alien species at an early stage of their spreading. However, if the species is already so widespread that eradication is no...

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...

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...