The home and life cycles of beaver family

Nikolai Laanetu takes a researcher’s glance into the family life of beavers and the development of the brood from spring to spring as well as from the beginning of the family to its end. We have heard a lot about the positive and negative influences of beavers on nature and human activity; however, surprisingly enough, the family life of beavers resembles much that of the humans. Beavers stay together until “death do them apart” and the family includes offspring of 2 years. The larger the family, the bigger the needs. One family functions for about 20 years. The exciting cover story is illustrated with numerous photographs and colorful figures.

The use of satellites in researching waterbodies

Anu Reinart introduces possibilities to evaluate the ecological condition of coastal sea and other waterbodies by using remote sensing. The author explains the mechanism of analyzing remote sensing data, admitting that processing of the satellite pictures is actually rather complicated. The well-illustrative pictures of satellite photos and their treatment bring the readers much closer to the seemingly mysterious world of remote sensing.

Modelling of regional climate – a pleasure of rich countries only?

Oliver Tomingas describes one of the most essential modern working aids of climate change researchers and weather forecasters – the regional model. In Estonia such models have not been used; however, the climate of Estonia is especially interesting and would be worth modelling, although the cost and knowledge base of such project would be very extensive.

The poplar of the Kazan Church in Tallinn – in memoriam

Heldur Sander writes about the thickest and one of the oldest black poplar of the Northern countries. We don’t know when the poplar was planted, as we do not know the completion date of the Kazan Church. The estimated age of the tree is about 200 years. The old tree was broken in a last year’s November storm.

Eesti Loodus enquires

Hendrik Puhkim explains the reasons behind cutting old trees from roadsides.

Nastja Pertëjonok looks into the perpectives of GMO-free zones in Estonia.

Let’s eat flaxseeds!

Urmas Kokassaar praises flaxseeds, especially their valuable oil. It’s good to eat breads topped with flaxseeds, but it’s even better to use pure flax oil.

European rarities in Estonia: Dragonflies

Janika Ruusmaa and Jaan Luig introduce three Estonian insects that are threatened in Europe. These are dragonflies from the Leucorrhinia family: the white-faced dragonfly Leucorrhinia albifrons, L. caudalis and L. pectoralis. Two of the species are rather common in Estonia, but disappearing from Europe due to the loss of habitats.

Interview: Toomas Kukk has interviewed Toomas Trapido, an environmentalist and one of the leaders of the Estonian Fund for Nature.

Walk on the middle track of the mysterious Naissaare Island

Birgit Itse continues the introduction of nature trails of the Naissaare Island, bringing us to the middle of the island. The sandy roads take us from the Garden of the Danish King to former villages, pine forests and small mires, to sandy dunes and back to the mine stores.

Let’s protect rainforest, but how?

Silvia Lotman writes about the experience of an Estonian-born scientist, Illar Muul, in protecting rainforests. He and his team have created interesting hanging trails on the height of the canopies in order to research the life in the canopy area, but the trails have also widened the possibilities for ecotourism in numerous rainforests around the world.

Essay: Most likely a library is better than a pile of peat by Toomas Kukk