About the nature reserve

• In 1931, Gustav Vilberg made a proposal in the journal Eesti Mets (Estonian Forest) to create a protected area with a big surface area in the Alam-Pedja region.
• Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve was established in 1994.
• Upon floods, the common flooded area downstream of the Emajõgi River and the Pedja and Põltsamaa Rivers may be more than 9,000 ha, leaving one third of the nature reserve under water.
• Swamps and swamp forests make up 72% of Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve.
• Alam-Pedja flooded meadow is the second largest after Kasari delta flooded meadow in Estonia.
• Spotted eagle, white-tailed eagle, corn crake and great snipe, who are endangered species in the world, nest in the nature reserve.
• The most important nesting areas of the great snipe in the Baltic States are located at the Alam-Pedja flooded meadows.
• There is a she-wolf with a cub on the coat of arms of Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve.
• Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve is a wetland of international importance or a Ramsar area (as of 1997) and an important bird area or IBA (as of 2003).
• Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve belongs to the cross-European Natura 2000 network.
• Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve is managed by the Environmental Board.

Wolf (Canis lupus). Photo by Sven Začek.