Vilsandi National Park is situated on the Harilaid peninsula of Saaremaa Island, Saare county in Estonia.
Location: Harilaid peninsula of Saaremaa island, Saare county Map
Area: 238 km2 (92 sq mi)
Tel. 454 6880
Vilsandi National Park is located in the western part of Saare
county. The nature reserve consists of the island of Vilsandi with
the surrounding expanses and bays (including the Vaika islands) and
the bays of Atla, Kihelkonna and Kuusnõmme with the islands located
in them. There are nearly a hundred islands in Vilsandi National
Park, together with the surrounding water area and the coast of
Saaremaa, it covers a total area of 238.9 km², of which the water
part makes up 165.2 km².
The oldest protected area in the
Baltic States includes natural complexes with different landscapes,
the most characteristic of which are sea islands. Vilsandi is the
only inhabited island in the protected area.
More than 250
bird species have been registered, of which 112 can be found
nesting; more numerous (more than 4000 pairs). White-cheeked terns,
terns and other seabirds stop in the waters of Vilsandi during their
migration in thousands of flocks.
The biological station of
the national park is located in Vilsandi.
The Kiipsaare
puppet located in Harilaiu in Vilsandi National Park was the
location of the movie "Somnambuul".
Protect coastal marine ecosystems and regulate use through
conservation conditions;
to protect species and their habitats based
on international conventions;
to restore and present the biodiversity
and landscapes characteristic of this region of Estonia, the national
marine cultural heritage and heritage objects;
develop and preserve
the traditional way of life of the coastal area of Western Estonia;
find new birds.
On September 21, 1971, the Vaika Nature Reserve was increased to
10,689 hectares by Regulation No. 457 of the Council of Ministers of the
Estonian SSR and named the Vilsand National Nature Reserve. The nature
reserve now included a hundred different-sized islands (with a total
area of 1289 ha).
On December 8, 1993, the Vilsandi National Park
was formed on the basis of the Vilsandi National Nature Reserve and the
Harilaiu Botanical-Zoological Reserve by a decree of the Government of
the Republic of Estonia.
The composition of the Vilsandi National
Nature Reserve included: Vilsandi Biological Station (warehouse, sauna,
generator building, garage-workshop, pump house, Vikat wharf) —
Saaremaa, Kihelkonna parish; 2 cordon-houses; Kuusnõmme service center
foundation — Saaremaa, Lümanda parish; Papisaare warehouse — Saaremaa,
Kihelkonna parish.
On May 22, 1996, the regulation of the
Government of the Republic of Estonia confirmed the protection rules and
boundaries of the Vilsandi National Park. The national park (area 23,757
hectares) covers the bank-rich coastal area from Harilaiu to Soeginina,
Vilsandi island, Loonalaiu and 160 small islands and islands.
In
1997, Vilsandi National Park received the status of a wetland of
international importance (Ramsar site). On December 6 of the same year,
the National Park Visitor Center was opened in Loona Manor. Since 1997,
ostriches have also been bred in Vilsandi.
Try to act without leaving traces in nature.
Observe the movement
restrictions in the national park areas. To move on marked/fenced
private land, ask the owner for permission.
Make a tent and make a
fire only in a place prepared and marked for this purpose. When leaving,
make sure the fire is out.
You can collect forest products, except in
the period of restricted movement in target protection zones.
Keep
the dog on a leash while walking in nature.
Use a motor vehicle only
on designated roads, bicycle roads and paths.
On the Harilaiu
peninsula, motor vehicles are not allowed to proceed from the parking
lot of the Harilaiu recreation area, except with the consent of the
Environmental Board in the case of scientific field work, supervision,
rescue and protection work, in order to avoid damaging the soil of
valuable habitats.
Fish in accordance with the current nature
conservation and fishing law, fishing regulations and Vilsandi National
Park conservation regulations. For details, see the website of the
Environmental Board.
In the marine target protection zone, fishing is
prohibited from April 15 to July 15.
Fishing is prohibited in
Kihelkonna, Kuusnõmme and Atla Bay from October 1st to November 30th.
Recreational fishing is allowed in Laialepa Bay, except fishing with net
and line.
It is not allowed to use floating equipment in the Mere
target protection zone and Laialepa Bay.
Organized tourism and mass
events (with more than 50 participants) are allowed with the consent of
the governor of the protected area.
Hiking trails pass through grazed
areas that may be limited by electric herding.
You can read about
movement in nature in the general part of the Environmental Code Act and
the Vilsandi National Park conservation regulations.
Every year in all Estonian national parks, a training program for a
young conservationist, or Junior Ranger, is held, which consists of a
summer basic course and an autumn and spring seminar. The aim of the
training program is to increase the environmental and nature awareness
of young people, to deepen the already existing interest in nature and
to create and develop a cooperation network of young people around
national parks. The practical work of nature conservation will be
introduced, knowledge of the flora and fauna of the national park will
be acquired, and how to make the world a better place will be discussed.
The initiator of the Young Conservationist Program is the European
Union of Protected Areas (EUROPARC Federation). The goal of the
initiative is to find young active people who are interested in nature
and feel responsible for preserving European natural values and want to
have a say in European developments. That's how the pan-European Junior
Ranger course was born in 2002. In 2004, the first Estonian young
conservationist course took place in Lahemaa National Park. Vilsandi
National Park joined the program in 2012. By now, however, all Estonian
national parks have joined the program.
Those who have
participated in two courses have the opportunity to represent Estonia in
the following year in an international camp (International Junior Ranger
Camp), which is organized in a different country every year. Young
people get to know young conservationists with a similar worldview.
Together you can discuss and develop ideas and thoughts that are useful
for the local community and nature at large. Young people's thoughts are
also useful for better organization of protected areas. Necessary works
are carried out in the camps, which can help endangered species and
preserve cultural heritage. Employees of protected areas understand that
it is necessary to share their experience and knowledge with young
people, as future organizers of nature conservation.
Students
from 6th to 12th can participate in the summer course. class young
people who are real nature enthusiasts. Added value is given if the
young person has participated in science quizzes, subject olympiads
and/or lives in a national park or in its immediate vicinity.
Continuation seminars can be attended by anyone who has previously taken
part in courses and/or continuation seminars (there is no age limit!).
Up to 20 young people can participate in the summer course in each
national park, and up to 15 young nature lovers in the autumn and spring
seminars.
To apply for the summer course, an application must be
submitted, on the basis of which the participants are selected. The
application form can be filled out every year in April-May.