The colourful beauties of the semi-coke hills
Mait Sepp, Margus Pensa, Aarne Luud ja Riina Vaht describe the current status, including the vegetation of the man-made landmark of the Ida-Viru County – soon the so-called Northeast Central Massif will gain a new appearance. The seven hilltops will soon be transformed into lower plains and cut off from the surrounding water cycle to prevent leakage of pollutants. The article focuses on the vegetation cover of the hills, differentiating between 11 vegetation types. Among others, seven species of protected orchids grow on these hills of semi-coke.

Bern Convention, the key document of European nature protection
Aleksei Lotman writes about the creation of the convention and gives an overview of its meaning and impact. In 2010, the 30th session of the Bern convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats was held. Nowadays the treaty incorporates 50 member states. The author also describes the essence of Emarald and Natura 2000 networks of protected areas in order to endorse the protection of habitats in all member states.

A species of Dikraneura in Estonia
Mati Martin introduces a rather new bug species in Estonian insect fauna: Dikraneura oculata, a species from the Cicadellidae family. Its favourite food is the leaves of the introduced Hungarian Lilac. The species originates from the Far-East and it has rapidly widened its area distribution as far as to Finland and Estonia in recent years.

Eurasian Reed Warbler
Margus Muts gives a visual and written overview of the family life of a common Estonian bird.

Estonian Nature enquires
Ingmar Ott, Helle Mäemets and Reet Laugaste describe the influence of floating islands on nature and society.

The hidden and nicer side of the controversial Blackthorn
Urmas Kokassaar shares diverse facts about the close relative of the Tree of the Year (Bird Cherry): from the ancient symbol of Underworld to the current medical plant. Nowadays, the fruits of blackthorn are somewhat common in Nordic countries. Although many different products, such as jam, marmalade, juice, wine etc. Are produces from the fruits, the main usage lies in the production of national alcoholic beverages (liqueurs). Teas from leaves and blossoms have been used in folk medicine.

Interview: Human calculations do not reach the ways of nature any time soon
Juhan Javoiš has interviewed Agu Laisk, a biophysicist.

The manor and park of Vaimõisa
Jaanus Kiili speaks highly of the Vaimõisa manor complex at Rapla County and introduces the development of the Early Classicist manor complex and park composition. He gives an overview of all the owners in the past and describes the history of founding the buildings that make up the manor complex. The park has been developed by different owners through the centuries and therefore has different temporal layers. The current look of the park has mostly been influenced by eclecticism.

The list of Gustav Vilbaste’s writings has been found
Comments by Vaike Hang, Katrin Kaugver, Elo Maandi and Piret Norvik. The long-lost box with bibliographical entries of Gustav Vilbaste’s writings was finally found from the Institute of the Estonian Language.

The end of summer at Hanikatsi
Tapio Vares spent a few days at the Hanikatsi Islet near Hiiumaa and the place enraptured him with the broad-leaved forest, species-rich juniper forest and the beauty of landscapes. The vegetation of the islet resembles these of the South-European ones, with its oak groves, stone fences and sheep. There are also magnificent linden groves and juniper forests rich in different deciduous trees. The article is illustrated with the author’s own drawings.

The first finding of Pycnoporellus alboluteus in Estonia
Indrek Sell gives directions about how to differentiate between different species of fungi of the genus Pycnoporellus. A new species of the genus was found in September, 2010 from the Tartu County.