Protected Areas of Estonia - Protected Areas - Special Management Zone

Special Management Zone

1. A special management zone is a land or water area of a protected area prescribed for the preservation of natural and semi-natural biotic communities established or to be developed therein. Mineral resources present within a special management zone are not deemed to be resources intended for exploitation.
2. Unless otherwise provided by the protection rules, the following shall be prohibited within a special management zone:
   1. economic activities;
   2. use of natural resources;
   3. erection of new construction works;
   4. staying of persons in the habitats of protected species and staging posts of migratory birds;
   5. driving motor vehicles, off-road vehicles or floating vessels;
   6. camping, building fires and organising public events.
3. 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.
4. The following may be permitted by the protection rules in the special management zone as activities necessary for the preservation of the object or activities which do not harm the object:
   1. maintenance work on existing land improvement systems and restoration of the water regime;
   2. development of biotic communities in adherence to the objective of protection;
   3. gathering of berries, fungi and other forest by-products;
   4. hunting activities;
   5. fishing activities;
   6. erection of roads, utility works or non-production construction works for servicing an immovable located within the protected area, or the protected area, and maintenance of existing construction works;
   7. activities necessary for guaranteeing the preservation of the characteristic features and species composition of semi-natural biotic communities, and activities for preservation of the living conditions of protected species;
   8. gathering of reed and seaweed.