The decision of establishing two new reserves - the Laidevahe Nature Reserve (in the island of Saaremaa) and the Leidissoo Nature Reserve (in the Lääne County) - was made at the session of the Government of Estonia today. The establishment of the Laidevahe Nature Reserve was initiated by the Ministry of the Environment in 1999. The reserve is established for protecting the wetland complex - the Laidevahe Bay and islets, and the relict lakes -, preservation and restoration of the endangered seminatural communities, and protection of the habitats of endangered species. The area is internationally known as an Important Bird Area and meets the criteria of the wetland of international importance (the Ramsar Convention area). Another purpose of the reserve is preservation of the habitat of a species of the first category of protection - the White-tailed Eagle - and the old-growth forest stands as well as protection of waterfowl and their habitat. The breeding of the White-tailed Eagle within the new reserve has been recorded since 1995. The protection regime of the special management zone will secure the preservation of natural environment necessary for breeding while temporary prohibition of moving within the protection zone will avoid occasional disturbance. The area of the Laidevahe Nature Reserve is 2424 hectares, 181 ha of which belong to private owners. The reserve is divided into seven special management zones and three limited management zones. According to the Protected Natural Objects Act, the owners of property within the reserve were notified of the planned establishment of the protected area and they were asked to submit comments, proposals, or objections. Five public meetings were held for informing the public concerning the planned establishment of the reserve. The proposal for establishment of the Leidissoo Nature Reserve was made by the Lääne County Environmental Department in 1999. The main purpose of the reserve is securing of protection of the landscape complex of the Sendri mire and Leidissoo bog, and preservation of the habitats of species found within the poor and rich open fen communities. The area of the Leidissoo Nature Reserve is some 6300 hectares, 155.34 ha of which belong to private owners. The reserve is divided into four special management zones and four limited management zones. The owners of property within the reserve were notified of the planned establishment of the protected area and the draft Protection Rules in written form they were asked to submit comments, proposals, or objections. Currently, the total number of different protected areas exceeds 350. For additional information please contact: |
