Protected areas of Estonia

The law declares the following 3 special protection areas, which are designated for the conservation of habitats, for the preservation of which the impact of planned activities is estimated and activities liable to damage the favourable conservation status of the habitats are prohibited:[1] Strict nature reserve (§ 29), Special management zone (§ 30) and Limited management zone (§ 31) In the time of the Estonian SSR, there were only five protected areas categorized as zapovedniks ("scientific nature reserve"): Vilsandi, Viidumäe, Endla, Nigula and Matsalu.

A park, arboretum and forest stand are special types of landscape protection area.

Unless otherwise provided by the protection rules, the following shall be prohibited within a special management zone: The prohibition established by clauses (2) 4) and 5) of this section does not extend to supervision and rescue work, activities related to the administration of the natural object, and to research carried out with the consent of the administrator of the protected area.

Unless otherwise provided by the protection rules, the following shall be prohibited within a limited management zone: An obligation to preserve the species and age diversity within biotic communities and a prohibition on haulage and transportation of timber out of the zone if the ground is not frozen may be established by the protection rules.

Restrictions different than those provided by the Forest Act may be established by the protection rules with regard to the size and form of cutting areas and the composition of a forest within a limited management zone necessary for the preservation of a biotic community or protected species within the zone.