For those who would like to try something different - exchange the cities for woods and meadows, carrying shopping bags in a department store for, maybe a once-in-a-lifetime-experience of building sheep-folds on an islet, listening to a bar band for a natterjack toad concert (here we can't guarantee the difference).

And don't think its only work - there will be plenty of time for seeing around, swimming and sunbathing. Most of the work will be related to the protection, reconstruction, clearance and maintenance of age-old seminatural plant communities, habitats, parks and landscape forms, but often also simply collecting rubbish. ELF has been organising conservation holidays for six years now, and none of the participants has found the work too hard. And almost always there will be sauna, campfire, swimming opportunities, guided excursions.

Most of the conservation holidays organized by ELF will take place on the islands or coastal area, but sometimes also in the forest. The coastline of the Baltic Sea in Estonia is characterized by numerous bays, straits, and islets. As a result of the gradual uplift of the earth's crust (3 mm a year in north-western Estonia) new islands are constantly appearing in addition to the present 1500 ones, and the area of the older islands is increasing. The islands of West-Estonia, including Ruhnu (located in the middle of the Gulf of Riga), form the West-Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve which was established in 1990 under the aegis of UNESCO. The territory of the Reserve, together with its water areas, covers 15 600 square km. The Reserve was established to protect valuable and vulnerable ecosystems and to promote sustainable and balanced development of the islands.

ELF welcomes everybody willing to pitch in!

Conservation Holidays in 2007

In 2007 ca 15 conservation holidays will take place. Detailed information and dates are available here in May.
For further information please contact: tarmo @ elfond.ee

According to ELF's concept, the aim of the nature tourism initiated and organized by ELF in Estonia is to inrease environmental awareness and support the preservation and welfare of local natural, cultural and community values by following the principles of sustainable and ecological tourism.

The tours are planned and implemented keeping in mind as sustainable use of nature resources and values as possible, for small groups, usually of 8-20 people.

The tours will be guided by professionals familiar with the local conditions and requirements of nature tourism. The group will usually be accompanied by a person from ELF who will arrange conservation works, transport, accomodation, meals, first aid, etc. ELF would be happy to help you to find your way to all corners of Estonia.

Conservation holidays for companies - a chance for a refreshing change of urban offices for meadows and forests for a few days - and discover that there are other colors besides paper-white and phone-beige, other singers besides mobile phones and faxes, and you might even discover new positive traits in your colleagues by the campfire. Why not end the long winter with a few-days trip to nature, or hold a general meeting or brainstorm this way?

So, your 'clients' at a conservation holiday would usually be sheep, junipers and natterjack toad and your work will be brushwood cutting, pool clearing, stone-fence repairing, haymaking, etc. Plus guided nature tours, meals in fresh air, swimming, sauna and campfire.

And you can do all this in the most scenic places of Estonia - Karula National Park, Matsalu Nature Reserve, Oisu Landscape Reserve, and in many other destinations.

For more details contact: Tarmo Tüür - tarmo @ elfond.ee