looduskalender.ee

Suitsu river in Matsalu

 

On Saturday, May 10th, the Estonian Environmental Board arranges a field seminar and picnic focusing on cultural heritage to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Matsalu National Park.

 

The bus leaves from Penijõe Manor and the journey goes along the route Penijõe Manor-Salevere Salumägi– Metsküla– Meelva– Kirbla– Rõude– Haeska-Puise. All who take part will have the opportunity to tell about their memories and stories of Matsalu. The seminar is directed by the Environmental Board director of the Hiiu – Lääne-Saare region, Kaja Lotman, and cultural heritage specialist Krista Kallavus. The field seminar ends with a picnic at Puise nina.

 

"In Matsalu nature and man have existed in close cooperation. Memories and legends of earlier times are part of a spiritual heritage that helps us understand what has been, and to learn for our time from earlier generations. We want to save this for coming generations so that they too will know what we hold in value,"  Kaja Lotman said.

 

Matsalu National Reserve area was established in 1957; in 2004 it was re-named the Matsalu National Park.

 

The Matsalu National Park was primarily created to protect the birds breeding, moulting and passing on migration, and it is included in the Ramsar wetlands list. With the national park, the coastal and floodplain meadows, alvars and wooded meadows and the cultural heritage of the Väinameri, all distinctive for West Estonia, are protected. The park is one of the most important breeding and migration stopover areas for waterfowl in Europe and as the only area in the Baltic countries awarded a European Council diploma in which its biological, geological and landscape diversity is acknowledged.

 

The birthday seminar is free for participants; prior registration is requested:

tiina.smotskov@keskkonnaamet.ee