Protected areas can be divided into three types of zones on the basis of existing operating restrictions: strict nature reserve, conservation zone, and limited management zone
A protected area is an area kept untouched by human activity or used in accordance with special requirements, where nature is preserved, protected, restored, studied, or introduced.
Protected areas are divided into national parks, nature reserves, and landscape protection areas.
The national park is a protected area for the preservation, protection, restoration, research, and presentation of nature, landscapes, cultural heritage, and the balanced use of the environment. There are six national parks in Estonia. The latest of these, the Alutaguse National Park, was founded in 2018.
A nature reserve is a protected area for the preservation, protection, restoration, research, and introduction of nature. There are 238 nature reserves in Estonia (as at 31.12.2022).
A landscape protection area is a protected area for the preservation, protection, research, presentation, and regulation of use of the landscapes. Landscape protection areas also include nature parks, protected parks, arboretums, and forest stands. The procedure for the protection of protected parks, arboretums, and forest stands is provided in their separate protection rules. There are 147 landscape protection areas, including nature parks, and 452 protected parks and forest stands in Estonia.
Protected areas can be divided into three types of zones based on the operating restrictions in force there: strict nature reserve, conservation zone, and limited management zone.
A strict nature reserve is a land or water area whose natural status is unaffected by direct human activity, where the preservation and development of natural communities only as a result of natural processes is ensured. It is also forbidden to visit there all year round.
A conversation zone is a land or water area of a protected area for the preservation of natural and semi-natural communities established or to be developed there. Natural resources located in the special protection zone are not considered proved reserves. In this zone, the presence of human beings in the habitats of protected species or in migratory bird assemblages is limited during times sensitive to these species.
A limited management zone is a land or water area of a protected area where economic activities are permitted, taking into account the restrictions provided by the Nature Conservation Act.
Each protected area has its own protection regime, which is established by the protection rules approved by a regulation of the Government of the Republic.
Only the limited management zone regime applies in protected parks, arboretums, and forest stands.
Links:
- Estonian protected areas
- Nature Conservation Act
- Moving in the nature
- Bans on movement in protected areas
Last modified: 13.02.2023