Estonian Ministry of the Environment United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) Estonian Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Estonian Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Compiled and edited by Tiiu Kull Text by Sirje Aher, Tiina Elvisto, Ljubov Gornaja, Margus Harak, Rainer Ilisson, Mari Jüssi, Arne Kaasik, Raul Kartus, Jaanus Kiili, Lauri Klein, Teet Koitjärv, Tiiu Kull, Kalevi Kull, Jüri Kumar, Mart Külvik, Aleksei Lotman, Riina Lõhmus, Mare Lõpp, Maret Merisaar, Kaja Peterson, Mati Pungas, Anto Raukas, Külli Relve, Aivar Ruukel, Urmas Saarma, Toomas Saat, Kalev Sepp, Erkki Truve, Virge Vasar, Haldja Viinalass, Toomas Veidebaum, Mai Zernask Estonian Ministry of the Environment United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) Environmental Protection Institute of the Estonian Agricultural University Tallinn–Tartu 1999 English text revised by Robert Oetjen © EPMÜ Keskkonnakaitse Instituut, 1999 Kirjastus Eesti Loodusfoto ISBN 9985-830-35-0 CONTENTS Foreword ........................................................................................................................8 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 9 Abbrevations in the text ................................................................................................... 10 Basic terminology ............................................................................................................ 11 I THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BIODIVERSITY PROCESS IN ESTONIA......................................... 15 II RELATION BETWEEN THE BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN TO OTHER PROCESSES IN ESTONIA AND ABROAD ............................................................................................... 18 Relation to other domestic processes ................................................................................. 18 Relation to other international processes ........................................................................... 19 III MEANS FOR SUSTAINABLE USE AND PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY .................................. 22 3.1. OALS AND MEANS OF PROTECTION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN ESTONIA BY THE STATE (Record of legislative acts) ................................................................................................. 22 3.2. SCIENCE .......................................................................................................................... 24 3.3. ACCESSIBILITY AND PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION ABOUT BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN ESTONIA ........... 25 1. Monitoring of status of biological diversity (BD) ................................................................. 25 2. The information system of biological diversity and organisation of data storage and processing 28 3. Subjects and objects of biological diversity information ....................................................... 30 IV ANALYSIS OF THE STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION IN DIFFERENT SECTORS AND MAIN OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................... 32 4.1. GENETIC RESOURCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY .............................................................................. 32 1. Genetic resources: concepts .............................................................................................. 32 2. The current situation and problems associated with the collection and conservation of genetic material from cultivated plants and wild plant and animal species .............................. 33 3. The development of biotechnology as a scientific and industrial sector in Estonia ................... 34 4. Genetically modified organisms and their use ...................................................................... 36 5. Veterinary biotechnological research and experimental production in Estonia .......................... 37 6. Legal protection of industrial property ............................................................................... 38 7. Summary, assessment and objectives.................................................................................. 39 4.2. EDUCATION ........................................................................................................................................ 40 1. The role of the general education system in protecting and introducing the principles of biodiversity ....................................................................................................................40 2. The role of the general education system in protecting and introducing the principles of biodiversity ....................................................................................................................42 3. Environmental (including nature conservation) education in Estonian universities ................... 42 4. The role of non-governmental environmental organisations (NGO) in the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity ........................................................................... 43 5. Environmental education goals within the Estonian Environmental Action Plan and their funding 44 6. Assessment of natural history education in Estonia in regard to the responsibilities imposed by the Convention on Biological Diversity........................................................................... 45 4.3. LANDSCAPE AND ITS PLANNING ............................................................................................ 46 1. The sources of Estonian landscape diversity ........................................................................ 46 2. Landscape aspects requiring special recognition .................................................................. 47 3. The influence of changing land use on biological diversity ................................................... 47 4. Landscape use and protection. Planning ............................................................................. 49 4.1. Landscape protection and management ............................................................................ 49 4.2. Land policy ................................................................................................................... 50 4.3. Planning and legislation ................................................................................................. 51 5. Landscape maintenance .................................................................................................... 53 5 4.4. NATURE CONSERVATION ....................................................................................................................... 55 1. Brief biodiversity background for the country ...................................................................... 55 2. Habitats-biotopes ............................................................................................................ 58 3. In situ conservation system .............................................................................................. 59 3.1. Protected areas ............................................................................................................. 59 3.2. Species protection ......................................................................................................... 61 3.3. Biotopes and habitats protection ..................................................................................... 62 4. Ex situ conservation measures ........................................................................................... 64 Objectives for the nature conservation sector ...................................................................... 65 4.5. FISHERY .......................................................................................................................... 66 1. Fishes ............................................................................................................................ 66 1.1. Species composition ...................................................................................................... 66 1.2. Fish communities, their structure and species richness ....................................................... 67 1.3. Recent changes ............................................................................................................. 68 1.4. Factors affecting fish biodiversity .................................................................................... 69 2. Invertebrates in water bodies ........................................................................................... 70 3. Fishery – fishing and fish farming...................................................................................... 70 4. The impact of fishery on biological diversity ....................................................................... 72 5. Strategy of protection of biological diversity of the sea and inland waters.............................. 73 Aims and tasks ................................................................................................................ 74 4.6. FORESTRY ........................................................................................................................................... 75 1. Nature conservation ........................................................................................................ 76 2. Environment protection and sanitary protection .................................................................. 76 3. Recreation ....................................................................................................................