Estonian Fund for Nature: Bringing Back Wooded Meadows and Flying Squirrels

Founded on 1 February 1991 by 41 Estonian naturalists, the Estonian Fund for Nature (ELF) protects endangered species and habitats across Estonia's forests, wetlands, coast and sea. Its flagship species is the flying squirrel, found in Europe only in Estonia and Finland; ELF's own research shows only 111 known flying-squirrel sites remain in the country. Through the EU LIFE WoodMeadowLIFE project launched in November 2021, ELF is working to restore 500 hectares of species-rich wooded meadows in Estonia by 2026. The fund also runs practical volunteer programs, including conservation camps and roadside patrols that carry migrating frogs safely across Estonian roads each spring.