• A conservation function, aimed at protection of both unique and typical ecosystems of the boreo-nemoral islands.
• A scientific function, to carry out the studies of dynamic nature-man interrelations and to participate in the international monitoring network.
• A development function provides regional planning, resource management, local participation and ecological education.

• elaboration of nature management plans,
• protection of core areas and nature monuments,
• elaboration and fulfilment of environmental monitoring,
• participation in regional planning,
• ecological education,
• dissemination of nature protection knowledge,
• control over tourism loads,
• enlist of local participation in nature protection programmes,
• promotion of traditional nature uses.

Everyday work and ongoing projects
in the Biosphere Reserve's Hiiumaa Centre

Nature conservation in situ

The zonation of the territory of Biosphere Reserve in Hiiumaa has been done pointing out core areas with total number about 40 that need strict protection, and protected land/seascapes. Ongoing projects are:

• monitoring of rare plants;
• botanical inventory of core areas;
• compiling Hiiumaa botanical and land-use maps;
• co-operation with and consulting local people on nature conservation.

Everyday task is elaboration of nature management plans for restricted terrestrial areas. First steps are made to create marine protected areas.

Environmental laboratory

Hiiumaa Centre for BR is launching an environmental laboratory which is multifunctional both for monitoring purposes and for local community needs.

Environmental education and training

Ongoing projects:
Monthly Biosphere Reserve newspaper "Kaitseala Teataja"
Sociological poll "Hiiumaa ja hiidlased" (Hiiumaa and Hiiumites) to find out the local people attitudes towards nature and readiness to accept concepts for the sustainable nature use.
Establishing "Hiiumaa Green Label" - green management co-operation project with tourist firms, hotels and restaurants;
Ornithological and botanical nature trails.

Library

Info gathering and saving: collecting books, newspapers and other info carriers, bibliographical and factographical filings, computer files (more than 4000 entries), Hiiumaa nature bibliography (also published);
Catalogue and computer databases;
Compiling digests with bibliography about local nature for schools.

Publications

Hiiumaa Centre for BR is publishing book-series "Pirru-Jaak" on Hiiumaa nature studies. So far 5 editions are available (Treasures of Hiiumaa, 1993; On the Coleoptera of Hiimaa island, 1993; Nature bibliography of Hiiumaa island, 1994; Birds of Hiiumaa, 1995; Orchids of Hiiumaa, 1998). Some more publications were prepared for several conferences and exhibitions, also leaflets describing nature trails, information brochures for tourists etc.

Co-operation and Biosphere reserves network

The Centre organises and participates in various research projects. These studies are aimed at the environmental protection, sustainable social development, and nature conservation:
" Ecological mapping of Estonian coasts", 1994 (sub-project of the National oil-spill prevention programme, in co-operation with Envision, Denmark)
"Long-term landscape changes on islands" (In co-operation with the Institute of Ecology, Estonian Academy of Sciences)
"Management plan for the Käina Bay bird sanctuary" (as a part of HELCOM Marine Lagoons and Coastal Wetlands project)
"ECO-Islands", a development project for six European islands with emphasis on soft tourism.
Several projects were started to introduce environmentally sound technologies to the island, as establishing industrial wind power plant on Hiiumaa or technological solutions for waste treatment and heat production.

Address

The West-Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve's Hiiumaa Centre

Vabrikuväljak 1
EE-92411 Kärdla
Hiiumaa
ESTONIA

Phone: +372 469 6260
+372 469 6276 (director)
Fax: +372 469 6269
URL: http://www.riik.ee/bka/hiiumaa