This summer, tests to control four large-growing alien species — knotweeds, false spiraea, goldenrods and snowberry — started by using innovative methods, including geotextile coating and hot steam treatment! Two of these species, goldenrods and knotweeds, are invasive alien species, the cultivation and distribution of which is prohibited in Estonia! But the two others, the false spiraea and the snowberry, form life-threatening thickets when they spread from gardens into the wild, and then it is almost impossible for other plants to in survive in the areas which h

The training day was for those who, when applying for support from the Agricultural Registers and Information Board (PRIA) for maintaining semi-natural grasslands, also chose to participate in an additional paid activity – the assessment of the nature conservation assets of the grassland.

This spring, the Nature Conservation Biology Working Group of the University of Tartu monitored 22 pairs of meadow waders nesting in coastal meadows and the hatching rate of nests in 19 project areas. In five coastal meadows, the hatching rate exceeded the limit necessary for the reproduction of the population. It gives us hope that we are on the right track to improve the well-being of the meadow waders.

As an added bonus, during our monitoring process we found a dunlin that was at least 14 years old!

In June we hosted LIFE programme liaison officers from 18 European countries in the oak forests of Mädapea, at the ponds which are home to the common spadefoot toad, introducing them to the restoration of small bodies of water and attempting to save the population of the common spadefoot toad and the great crested newt.

There was great interest in Sven Začek's photography course organised on the 9th and 10th of June in the Laelatu wooded meadow. The terrace of the University of Tartu Biology Station was the perfect place for measuring exposure and conducting the training.

This spring the Environmental Board received a total of 23 applications for the implementation of the result-based support for floodplain and coastal meadows. In turn, 12 land managers were selected, with whom the criteria for result-based support were negotiated, and future challenges and possible solutions were discussed on the basis of each area. After that, contracts were signed for the next 5 years with a total of 10 applicants to cover 10,500 ha.

Two of the LIFE projects – us and the wooded meadows restoration project „WoodMeadowLIFE” – had the opportunity to visit the Czech LIFE-IP project “Jednapriroda“, which, like us, is involved in the restoration and maintenance of semi-natural grasslands.

At the beginning of this year, we were joined by MTÜ Siuts and with that, two young talents: Software Engineer Tanel Peet, who is the creator and developer of the bird song app Siuts, and Designer of Web Services Kaja Kruus, who is the author of the app's quirky design.

As of 10th of May managers of seminatural grasslands can apply for maintenance support from PRIA. For the first time, they will be able to select assessment of natural values of the land they manage as an additional activity. Forms and guidance materials have been developed for the assessment of natural values, and extra funds will be received for completing them.

The Environmental Board has sent out the first newsletter to 6,000 Estonian landowners who have at least 1 ha of seminatural grasslands.

The newsletter sheds light on our traditional landscapes and the need to manage them, and gives advice on how to proceed if a landowner has the desire and interest to start managing the seminatural grasslands on their land.