Background Compared to many other parts of Europe, the Baltic countries still contain large areas of ecologically intact forest. Included in these is an impressive array of priority habitats found only as highly fragmented and isolated patches in most Member States. Thanks to centuries of non-intervention, many areas in Estonia are still in an almost 'virgin' state. Following a national survey of the overall forestry resources in 1997, 136 forest sites were selected for conservation and management through the Estonian Forest Policy. This LIFE project targets 20 of these, considered to be the most important from a Natura 2000 perspective. Taken together they cover over 50,000 ha. At the time of the project starting, logging restrictions were still valid on the state-owned sites, however there are increasing economic pressures on people to cut down the rest for its timber value. As people face a less certain future in the agricultural sector and are able to claim their private land back, the forests provide an immediate and additional source of revenue for them. Objectives The objective of this LIFE project was to make a significant contribution to the conservation of these unique forest habitats in Estonia and in due course to the establishment of the NATURA 2000 network in the country. The project foresaw the purchase of 500 ha of the top-quality private forest areas and the compilation of management plans for 19 forest conservation areas, including a large share of priority forest habitat types, but also other habitat types of European concern. It aimed to start the implementation of the management plans to help secure a favourable conservation status of the targeted forest habitats and connected species. Habitats expected to benefit were primarily western taiga (*9010), Fennoscandian hemiboreal swamp woods (*9080), bog woodland (*91D0) and alluvial forests (*91E0). In addition, the project also looked to cover smaller areas of Fennoscandian herb-rich spruce forest (9050), coniferous forests on or connected to glaciofluvial eskers (9060) and riparian mixed deciduous forests along rivers (91F0). Species that were hoped to benefit included Pteromys volans, Canis lupus, Lynx lynx, Ursus arctos, Ciconia nigra and Tetrao urogallus. The project sought to bring about increased regulation of the recreational exploitation and tourism of the areas and to raise public interest in natural forests and improve nature education. This aimed to develop greater public willingness and involve different interest groups in the protection of forests of biological diversity. Results Although the project was not able to meet its land purchase targets - six private land units totalling 49 ha were purchased - it did succeed in establishing 20 forest protection areas and elaborating 19 management plans for securing the best available conservation status of these forest habitats. The project has strategic importance for the representation of several forest habitats in northern and eastern Europe within the Natura 2000 network. As part of the implementation efforts, over 200 ha of semi-natural grasslands, which had been previously abandoned, were restored and regularly mowed leading to clear changes in their species composition. To restore the natural state of drained forest communities, 22 draining ditches were closed in three sites. This provided valuable practical experience for the future about which type of blocking should be used in different conditions and forest communities. A first comprehensive strategy for the restoration of less valuable forest monoculture stands was developed, leading to forest restoration cuttings on 350 ha of such habitat. Special nets, made of coconut fibre, were used to fix 300 m² of eroded sandy soils in the habitat of wooded dunes to help prevent further erosion and restore the eroded undergrowth and vegetation. This already produced signs of vegetative growth during the project. As part of its efforts to manage human impact on the forest whilst maintaining local interest in the sites, eight study trails and 17 camping places were established. Furthermore, 84 local forest roads were blocked to minimize the impact to sensitive habitats from the pressure of visitors. The locations of recreational infrastructure were very carefully designed in close cooperation with local community groups. The project established three nature study centres with nature education exposition and technical equipment in Puhatu, Muraka and Saarjõe nature reserves. It also produced a study film shown on national television, leaflets – in Estonian, English and even Russian - and information boards. It networked with other LIFE projects and participated in the Latvian LIFE-Nature Coop project “Experience exchange on habitat management among the Baltic LIFE-Nature projects”.