Statistics of protected natural objects

As at 31 December 2024, there were a total of 4506 protected natural objects in Estonia. That is 51 objects more than in the previous year. In the following, the difference in the number of objects compared to 2023 is shown in brackets.

A bird-rich islet in Estonia’s coastal waters. Photo: Allar Liiv

 

The more detailed breakdown by type is as follows:

  • nature reserves – 242 (no change ↔);
  • landscape protection areas – 150 (no change ↔);
  • national parks – 6 (no change ↔);
  • areas with an old or non-renewed protection order – 4 (no change ↔);
  • parks and forest stands – 446 (change 13 ↓);
  • limited-conservation areas – 308 (no change ↔);
  • species protection sites – 2124 (change 83 ↑);
  • salmonid spawning and habitat sites - 125 (no change ↔);
  • natural objects protected at the local government level – 29 (change 1);
  • individual protected natural objects – 1072 (change 16 ↓)

 

There are a total of 570 protected species in Estonia. The largest number of species, 267, belongs to protection category II. Among angiosperms, the most protected species are found — a total of 193. In some groups, all species occurring in Estonia are protected — for example, all reptiles and amphibians.

 

Distribution of protected species by protected categories and species groups
 Protected category I speciesProtected category II speciesProtected category III species
Ferns1065
Gymnosperms010
Angiosperms2111953
Mosses42516
Fungi92710
Lichens13218
Invertebrates1645
Birds163367
Fish025
Amphibians227
Reptiles014
Mammals2137
Total66267237

 

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Statistics of protected natural objects by years:

 

Last modified: 26.05.2025