Woodland Key Habitats

Summary

A considerable share of Woodland Key Habitats (WKHs) is closely linked to forests with high water level (e.g alder forests) or wetlands (e.g. bogs) or located in coastal zones, at the waterside of rivers and streams. Forests play a crucial part in preserving river ecosystems and improving water quality. Old growth forests also act as an important carbon sink and therefore mitigate climate change. The project’s activities took place in the Baltic Sea’s immediate catchment area, and therefore has a positive impact also on the Baltic Sea.

The project consisted of two parts with similar goals and objectives: to find, map and protect at least 85% of the identified but unregistered WKHs in Estonia and to improve general knowledge and environmental education about WKHs. Trainings for field experts and educational events were conducted withing the project as well.

If a forest area is mapped and fulfils certain criteria, it is eligible for being registered as a WKH and thus put under protection by the authorities.

The projects mapped a total of 13,395 hectares of WKHs. This amounts to 86% of the preselected sites, and new sites were also found during inventories. Most of these areas have already been registered as WKHs. They are therefore protected and can continue to serve their ecological functions, also for the Baltic Sea.