Prepared in collaboration with scientists, the report focuses on the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Estonia in 2005-2008. Estonia has been successful in protecting biological diversity. A well-functioning Natura Network has been created. There are 395 protected areas, 343 special conservation areas, 5 national parks, 548 parks or forest stands and 3 local objects. Protected areas cover 590,333 ha land and 92,253 ha water areas. The territory of special conservation areas covers 113,745 ha land and 633,905 ha water areas in total. Species protection sites incorporate 74,707 ha land and 12,795 ha water areas.
"Natural values and biological diversity in protected and special conservation areas are not directly under threat," Liina Eek, Adviser of the Nature Conservation Department of the Ministry of the Environment said. "We have been making progress in the recovery of threatened species."
An example Eek gave was a project carried out in Estonia in 2001-2004 with assistance from the European Union, which stopped the disappearance of the natterjack toad (Bufo calamita) as a species and arrested the decrease in their populations. Moreover, two out of three populations are even growing in numbers. "The project helped restore 13 overgrown wooded meadows and to re-inhabit them with natterjacks," Eek noted. Eek emphasised that a joint project carried out by Estonia, Finland and Denmark in 2004-2008 to manage the protection of the crested newt (an amphibian resembling a lizard) in all countries at the Baltic Sea was just as successful.
"Unfortunately, there are cases when nature is sacrificed or is intended to be sacrificed for economic interests," Eek said. "This is especially the case outside protected areas where, for example, the desires of developers may not necessarily coincide with the principles of nature conservation when drawing up plans. In these cases, it is important to find a compromise, which does not endanger the environment and helps preserve natural values for future generations as well.
Additional information: (10/02/2009) |
