Parks.it - Parks, Reserves, and Other Protected Areas in Estonia

Parks, Reserves, and Other Protected Areas in

Estonia

Counties

Harju
Hiiu
Ida-Viru
Jõgeva
Järva
Lääne
Lääne-Viru
Põlva
Pärnu
Rapla
Saare
Tartu
Valga
Viljandi
Võru

Info

Protected Areas in Estonia
Protected areas in Estonia cover 485,198 hectares, that is 10.73% of the national territory (water areas not included).
The legislative basis for the country's system of protected areas is the Law on Protected Natural Objects, according to which there are three main categories of protected areas:

National parks (Rahvuspark): National Parks are protected areas of special national importance for the preservation, protection, investigation and promotion of awareness of the natural and cultural inheritance.
Nature Reserves (Looduskaitseala): a Nature Reserve is an area protected for its nature or scientific value, which is set aside for the preservation, protection, and investigation of natural processes and endangered or protected plant, animal and fungus species and their habitats, inanimate objects, as well as landscapes and natural monuments.
Landscape Reserves (Maastikukaitseala): a Landscape Reserve is an area of natural or cultural heritage value which is rare or typical for Estonia, and is established for nature conservation, cultural or recreational purposes.

Sources: Estonian Environment Information Centre