Nature conservation statistics

As at 31 December 2024, a total of 23,4% of Estonia’s area, including both land and waters, is under protection

 

The area of protected areas in Estonia increased significantly in 2004, when the Natura 2000 network was established. As a result, the share of protected areas increased from 11% to 17% of land and then continued to increase gradually. The area of protected areas in the territorial sea also increased significantly – in the early 2000s, the share was 3% of the territorial sea, where after the creation of the Natura 2000 network, the share of the area of the protected sea areas rose to close to 27% (excluding the exclusive economic zone) [1].

 

As at the end of 2024, 19.8% of Estonian land areas (incl. inland waters, except Lake Võrtsjärv and Lake Peipsi) are under protection. 44% of large lakes are under protection. The share of the territorial sea under protection is 28.1%; if the exclusive economic zone is taken into account, the share of protected territorial sea is 19.3%. In total, together with land and waters, 23.4% of Estonia’s area is under protection. Slightly more than 75% of Estonia’s nearly 4,000 kilometres of coastline is under protection [1].

 

The EU's biodiversity strategy for 2030 sets the following targets: a minimum of 30% of the EU's land areas (including inland waters) and 30% of the EU sea area are legally protected. According to the Environmental Agency, 20.8% of the land area and 19.3% of the sea area (including the economic zone) are under protection in Estonia.

 

In terms of counties, the share of areas under protection in 2023 was the largest in Lääne County (29%), Pärnu County (27.8%), and Hiiu County (23.6%). Põlva County (8.4%) and Jõgeva County (14.4%) have the fewest protected areas.

 

Area of the protected territory by counties as of 31 December 2024. Source: Environment Agency
CountyChange in the protected territory (ha) compared to 2023Area of the protected territory (ha)Percentage of the area of the county
Harju county109↑9089921.0
Hiiu county3↑2438223.6
Ida-Viru county81↑6424421.6
Jõgeva county19↑3653114.4
Järva county6↑3900214.6
Lääne county18↑5262629.0
Lääne-Virumaa county6↓6311917.1
Põlva county20↑152998.4
Pärnu county117↑15067527.8
Rapla county1↑5636020.4
Saare county44↑5707719.4
Tartu county22↓6230918.6
Valga county32↑4153121.7
Viljandi county44↑5845617.1
Võru county13↑4800417.3
Total land479↑86051519.8

 

Further information:

 

Area of protected territory in Estonia by years:

 

 

Last modified: 14.01.2025

 

 

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[1] R. Roasto jt. Eesti looduse kaitse aastal 2020. Tallinn: Keskkonnaagentuur, 2020