Urban nature There is a natural need for people to be in an environment surrounded by greenery and biodiversity – it lifts the mood and provides opportunities for movement; in addition, trees improve the air quality and stabilise the air temperature [1]. A city is a completely unique environment that offers different eco-niches compared to the rest of nature. In the city, we primarily see species...

The Estonian coast, including the cliffed coast, is a flat coast in its entirety The coast is the zone between the shore region (the bottom and land of the sea or large lake, formed mainly by waves) and the bottom and mainland of the adjacent sea or large lake (Lake Võrtsjärv, Lake Peipsi). The coast is generally divided into steep coasts and flat coasts. The Estonian coast, including the cliffed...

Report an environmental breach or pollution to the state helpline at 1247 If you discover environmental pollution or a potential threat to the environment, assess the situation – can you eliminate it a manner that is safe for both yourself and the environment? For example, you can pick up an empty bottle or a discarded ice cream wrapping and take it to the nearest trash bin, but in case of more...

What to do if bats settle in your house, snakes swarm under your compost pile, and an anthill starts to rise in the garden corner? Due to declining habitats and expanding human settlements, more and more wild animals are entering cities and villages. In addition, readily available food also attracts smaller wildlife to cities. Also in late summer and autumn, when young animals start to move around...

Tourism has become an important industry in the last century Increased travelling and recreation have a significant impact on the natural environment. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (2019), the CO 2 footprint of tourism increased by 40% between 2009 and 2013. Tourism has been figuratively compared to a fire – if you can use it, it...

Soil erosion causes the loss of 25–40 billion tonnes of soil worldwide every year It is estimated that three square kilometres of soil are destroyed every day in Europe [1]. Due to urbanisation and road construction, an area of around 200,000 square kilometres in Europe, or the size of the United Kingdom, has lost its function permanently. The global economic damage from deforestation and land...

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...

In Estonia, mires currently cover about 6% and peatlands (former mires) cover about another 16% of the land area Types of mires: Minerotrophic fen is the first stage of mire development. In a minerotrophic fen, the peat layer is thin and the plants get their nutrients from groundwater. Minerotrophic fen vegetation is generally species-rich and lush, as the plants reach the groundwater. Today, most...

In Estonia, nature conservation is organised by several agencies of the Ministry of the Environment The Ministry of the Climate is responsible for organising environmental and nature conservation, performing tasks related to land and spatial databases, organising the use, protection, reproduction, and accounting of natural resources, ensuring radiation protection, performing tasks related to...