EU Member States must work to ensure that all bodies of surface water are at least in good condition The pollution of surface water bodies with hazardous substances in Estonia occurs primarily in connection with pollution from oil shale production in Ida-Viru County since the 1930s. However, a more significant pollution load from agriculture (manure, fertilisers, pesticide residues) arose during...

The Water Act defines a water protection zone on the shores of water bodies, while the Nature Conservation Act defines a building exclusion zone and a limited management zone Inland waters are a natural resource that are important as valuable habitats, animal routes, but also for recreation and the protection of the aquatic environment. In order to preserve the natural condition and diversity of...

The flora and fauna of Lake Peipsi are rich in species Lake Peipsi is one of the largest lakes in Europe. The lake has an area of about 3,543 km 2, a length of about 135 km, a width of 48 km, an average depth of 8 m, and a maximum depth of 17.6 m [1]. The lake is divided into Lake Peipsi (Suurjärv), Lake Pihkva, and Lake Lämmijärv. The basin of Lake Peipsi covers 47,802 km 2 – it is larger than...

The biota of Lake Võrtsjärv is quite rich in species – 35 species of fish have been found here Lake Võrtsjärv is the second largest lake in Estonia. It has an area of about 270 km 2, a length of about 35 km and a width of 15 km in the north, an average depth of 2.8 m, and a maximum depth of 6.0 m. The catchment basin of Lake Võrtsjärv covers 3,380 km 2 [1]. Lake Võrtsjärv is a flow-through lake...

More alien species are found in anthropogenic habitats than in natural habitats There are a wide variety of species in the anthropogenic habitats, from the first inhabitants of waste lands and landfills, many of whom are considered weeds (e.g. dandelion, plantains), to exotic plants planted in parks and arboretums. Anthropogenic terrestrial habitats can be broadly divided into two: purposefully...

Heritage meadows have been created as a result of nature-friendly management Coastal meadow is a grassland on the sea shore that is more or less affected by saline seawater. Coastal meadows are located in flat, turfed coastal areas. As animals have historically been grazed there, they are therefore also called coastal pastures or coastal grasslands. Coastal meadows are mainly located in Western...

Since 2002, the Estonian national curricula have included the cross-cutting theme ‘The environment and sustainable development’ Aristokli Hrebtov, the inspector of the schools of Saaremaa and the founder of the Saaremaa Society of Friends of Nature (founded in 1913), prepared a detailed circular letter for schools, titled ‘For the preservation of nature works’, in which he called on people to...

Restrictions may seem incomprehensible and sometimes annoying, but they contribute to the preservation and enhancement of biodiversity and, ultimately, to the improvement of the surrounding environment There is a long list of restrictions. In a very general sense, they can be divided into the following categories: restrictions on movement in protected areas and species protection sites...

The purpose of the marked trails in nature is to introduce natural values to hikers both in and outside protected areas There is no explanation for the meaning, differences, and similarities of the phrases ‘hiking trail’ and ‘nature trail’. It seems that no need for that has arisen. The Estonian Ramblers’ Association’s Matkaseletussõnastik (Explanatory dictionary on hiking) says that a hiking...

Protection rules are legislative acts approved by the Government of the Republic or the Minister of the Environment that define the protection procedure of an area. The management plan or action plan for the protection of a habitat and species is an operational action plan for nature conservation works The protection of protected natural objects is organised mainly on the basis of two documents...