On 12–13 August, we learned about the alien species control activities carried out under the Latvian LIFE project LatViaNature. The control activities were introduced to us by Jēkabs Dzenis, Jānis Saulītis and Aiva Bojāre from the Latvian environmental agency, with whom we visited the Ķemeri and Ragakāpa nature parks and the Vecdaugava nature reserve.

Last week, the Conference on Ecological Restoration in Tartu brought together 700 researchers, practitioners and policy makers from 47 countries, who have at heart the preservation of biodiversity, ecological restoration of nature and an ever smarter cooperation between man and nature. More than 80% of Europe’s natural habitats have been damaged and impoverished. The European Nature Restoration Law, which entered into force last week, aims to change this situation decisively.

One of the largest farmers in Central Estonia, Ahti Kalde (Sadala Agro), is among the seven farmers who are testing the benefits of strips of grassland on agricultural land in cooperation with the LIFE IP ForEst&FarmLand project. Last year, he established 12-metre-wide grassland strips on 58 hectares of field, sowing a mix of native grasses and flowering plants that together cover about eight hectares of the field.

By preserving, maintaining and managing Estonia’s most diverse natural landscapes – semi-natural grasslands – we value Estonian traditions, culture and heritage. Haven’t our customs, our songs, our stories and our lifestyle as a whole been inspired and sustained by the diversity and beauty of the nature around us?

The Environmental Board has launched a call for tenders to restore more than 400 hectares of high-biodiversity semi-natural grasslands in protected areas in Estonia, including 86 hectares of coastal meadows that are important for the conservation of species. The coastal meadows will be restored with funding from the LIFE IP ForEst&FarmLand project.

This year, three farms have taken a big step towards diversifying the agricultural landscape with the support of our project. Aivar Mikkus from Kirbla OÜ created strips of grassland on a 20 ha field, Kalmer Visnapuu from Piira farm on a 46 ha field, and Sander Hiire from Mäemõisa OÜ on a 32 ha field. In each of these fields, we are experimenting with different seed mixes to support biodiversity and nature’s benefits (pest control and pollination) in agricultural landscapes.

Wetlands – areas that are permanently wet or at least partly covered by water for part of the year, including wet woodlands, shallow water bodies or flat seashores – are some of the world’s most important ecosystems, providing nature’s benefits and a place for recreation for people, as well as habitats for many species of plants, fungi and animals. At the same time, wetlands are some of the most threatened ecosystems in the world, with nearly 35% of wetland habitats lost due to human activities.

A study commissioned by the Environmental Investment Centre and the Estonian Private Forest Union (Eesti Erametsaliit) working group on the revising of private forest measures, titled Natura 2000 metsaaladele seatud piirangute