Today, a Regulation of the Minister of the Environment will enter into force amending the lists of plant, fungi, and animal species and list of fossils of Protection Category III. Among others, species of plants and fish that are not very rare in Estonia but are highly rare in the European Union (EU) have been added to the lists. According to Ms. Riinu Rannap, Specialist of the Nature Protection Department of the Ministry of the Environment, Estonia as a future EU Member State has the obligation to preserve the sound population of those species in its current state. "The majority of species added to the list of Protection Category III species have adapted specifically to their current habitats. This implies that if the state of the habitats would worsen, they would become threatened species as they would not be able to readapt to the rapidly changing conditions. In a number of EU Member States those species have become very rare, especially due to the destroyal of their habitats. Therefore Estonia bears responsibility for preservation of those species," said. Ms. Rannap. The following species have been added upon proposal of the EU to the list of Protection Category III plant species: Agrimonia pilosa, Botrychium simplex, Dianthus arenarius ssp arenarius, Angelica palustris, Sisymbrium supinum, Thesium ebracteatum, Dichelyma capillaceum, Drepanocladus vernicosus, Encalypta mutica, Meesia longiseta, and Tortella rigens. Upon proposal of the EU, the following animal species have been added to the list: Unio crassus, Vertigo angustior, Vertigo geyeri, Vertigo genesii, Aeshna viridis, Leucorrhinia albifrons, Leucorrhinia pectoralis, Leucorrhinia caudalis, Ophiogomphus cecilia, Boros schneideri, Cucujus cinnaberinus, Dytiscus latissimus, Graphoderus bilineatus, Osmoderma eremita, Oxyporus mannerheimi, Coenonympha hero, Euphydryas aurinia, Euphydryas maturna, Lycaena dispar, Lopinga achine, Maculinea arion, Cobitis taenia (the Spined Loach), Cottus gobio (the Sculpin), Misgurnus fossilis (the Weatherfish), and Sicista betulina (the Northern Birch Mouse). Upon proposal made by scientists of the Institute of Zoology and Botany of the Estonian Agricultural University, the following bryophytes (mosses) have been added to the list: Bryum marratii, Bryum neodamense, Catoscopium nigritum, Porella platyphylla, Rhytidium rugosum, Sphagnum inundatum, Tortula lingulata, Neckera pennata, and Sphagnum wulfianum. Sorex araneus (the Common Shrew), Sorex minutus (the Pygmy Shrew), Sorex caecutiens (the Masked Shrew), and Neomys fodiens (the Water Shrew) have been excluded from the list of Protection Category III animal species. According to data of the Estonian Teriological Society, those species are not threatened in Estonia and there is not justification to maintain those among protected species. Martes foina (the Stone Marten) was also excluded from the list as its number has considerably increased and habitat expanded in recent years Cypripedium calceolus (the Lady’s-slipper) has been excluded from the list of Protection Category III plant species as it has already been added to the category II list. Protected species are divided among three protection categories in Estonia. Protection Category I species are extremely rare or endangered species, Protection Category II is valid for vulnerable species. Species, the number of which is threatened by destroyal of their habitats and which may upon continuation of the threatening factors become threatened species are listed in Protection Category III. For additional information please contact: |
