Sources: Estonian Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 1999; Estonian Red Data Book, 1998.

Biological diversity (biodiversity) has been well preserved in Estonia and forms a very important natural value not only for the country but also region-wide. Consequently, the wildlife in Estonia is relatively rich in species, strong communities, relatively well preserved landscapes, satisfactory genofond of local breed animals and cultivated plants.

The existence of about 4000 species of fungi, 800 species of lichens, 3000 species of algae, 550 species of bryophytes, 1500 species of vascular plants, 15000 invertebrates and 400 vertebrates have been registered in Estonia. There are four national parks and about 300 various kinds of nature reserves. Environmentally protected areas cover about 12 % of the Estonian territory.

Protected species include 210 species of plants, 30 species of fungi and 299 animal species. Ten protected species found in Estonia are also included in the IUCN Red Book some of which are extremely rare (European mink, Atlantic sturgeon, Pearl mussel), some are rare (White-tailed eagle, Matachewan leech, Corn crake, Lesser white-fronted goose), some are accidental guests (Wolverine and red-breasted Goose) and some are still relatively common (Formica Aquilonia and Corn crake).
 

Estonian landscapes are diverse, capable of rehabilitation and their structure is relatively good. Diversity of landscapes is also reflected on the map of Estonian five main landcover class (Figure 1, Table 1), which is one of the results of CORINE Land Cover project in Estonia. The Estonian coasts are in a much better state compared to other European countries due to restrictions of use during the period of occupation.
 

Table 1. CORINE Land Cover classes in Estonia 1998.
 

Code	Land Cover class	Polygons	Per cent	Total area, ha	Per cent
1	Artificial surfaces	1242	3.47	84027	1.85
2	Agricultural areas	13301	37.19	1467185	32.37
3	Forest and semi-natural areas	19655	54.95	2577889	56.84
4	Wetlands	1287	3.60	195570	4.32
5	Water	284	0.79	209033	4.6

Estonia is an active supporter of nature conservation on international level and has joined several international agreements related to biological diversity such as the Bern, Ramsar, Washington, Helsinki and Biodiversity Conventions.

The biodiversity conservation in Estonia concentrates on preservation of local species on the level of viable population.

The major challenge for the nearest future is to prevent or reduce adverse impacts on biodiversity and historical particularities of landscapes due to the socio-economic transformations in Estonia, in particular the land and ownership reforms. The only way to avoid or minimize the impacts is by means of a nature protection management based on a scientific, well designed and properly functioning biodiversity monitoring system, which provides accurate and timely data for management decisions.

At the World Conference of Environment and Development held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro Estonia signed the Convention of Biological Diversity. Joining this global convention bound Estonia with several obligations. One of the first obligations of every signatory of the convention is the implementation of state-sponsored planning of protection of biological diversity and sustainable use of nature. Beside the environmental sector there is a multitude of institutions involved with issues connected with biological resources, thus it is inevitable that all these institutions and interest groups participate in protection of biological diversity and sustainable use of nature.

The preparation of the Estonian National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan was carried out from the second half of 1998 until the second half of 1999, with participation of around one hundred experts.

Compared to other regions with similar areas situated to the north of the 57th northern parallel, the diversity of Estonian flora and fauna is one of the richest in the world. The reasons for it are geographically conditioned diversity of Estonian climatic conditions; the existence of both islands and continent; the influence of sea and large number of inland waters; diversity of soils, simultaneous incidence of Silurian (to a lesser extent Ordovician and Devonian) limestone and Devonian sandstone as bases for the formation of soils, and the resulting incidence of neutral, lime-rich and lime-poor soils; extension of a large number of species distribution area borders to the territory of Estonia; large proportion of natural landscapes in Estonia; retention of traditionally extensive methods of land use until the middle of this century and in many areas until the latest decades, and the respective relatively extensive retention of semi-natural habitats (heritage habitats) and relatively unimportant role of alien tree species in forestry.

Small-scale species richness of some Estonian habitats is one of the greatest in the world. Such are the communities in preserved wooded meadows under long-term use in western Estonia where the number of vascular plants may be as high as 74 species per square metre. One of the important reasons for the fact is retention of traditionally extensive methods of land use until the middle of this century.

General high diversity of landscapes in Estonia is, first and foremost, conditioned by diversity of natural conditions; preservation of natural and semi-natural (heritage) habitats in a relatively large number of landscape types; large proportion of landscape types that have nearly disappeared in the rest of Europe (mires, heritage landscapes).

The preservation of bogs, wooded meadows, wetland forests and several other landscape types mostly destroyed in the rest of Europe has been possible due to stopping of amelioration works before such activities had covered all areas; relatively late introduction of intensive land use and retention of manual labour in the agriculture of the country until the last quarter of this century. Thus, Estonian biodiversity richness has besides local and regional importance also global value.

Current overview is basing on selected examples on the status, main threats and measures taken on biodiversity in Estonia. Selection of examples for status of biodiversity is done with intention to give first overview about threatened species in Estonia as representatives of species diversity status. Top predators were chosen for indicating the state of food chain species they are top of and also because of their usage of most pristine habitats. Giving an overview on main pressures for biodiversity the choise was done on the basis of threatening habitats. Therefore given examples here are density of roads as main cause for habitat fragmentation; intensity of forestry as mait threat for more than half of estonian habitat types and recreation load for habitats situating along Estonian long and diverse coastline mainly. The issue of taken measures is divided into nature conservation activities (both species protection and habitat protection measures), expenditures for damages done in nature, as practical tool for actual protection and last but not least - the legislation prepared for biodiversity protection.

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