Visitor restrictions in Piusa Caves Nature Reserve
The objective of the Piusa Caves Nature Reserve is to protect the Piusa caves (underground mine chambers) and the hibernation colony of bats, old natural forests and III category protected plant species (small pasque flower Pulsatilla pratensis and creeping lady's-tresses Goodyera repens).In the nature reserve, tent camping and making a campfire (except for the purpose of shaping the forest community with the consent of the manager of the protection area), using natural resources, and economic activities are prohibited.
Visitors are allowed to access, pick mushrooms and other forest produce and go hunting in the entire territory of the nature reserve. Visitors are allowed to access the underground mining chambers only with the consent of the protected area manager, except for monitoring and rescue works, activities related with the management of the nature reserve and research work conducted with the consent of the manager of the nature reserve. Visitors are allowed to go to the observation platform erected for viewing the underground mining chambers.
In the nature reserve, visitors are allowed to drive a vehicle and ATV on roads and cycle on smaller paths. Driving a vehicle or ATV outside the roads is allowed for the purpose of monitoring and rescue works, for activities permitted by the protection rules, activities related with the management and organisation of management of the nature reserve, works required for the maintenance of line facilities, and for forestry and agricultural works.
In the nature reserve, organising public events for up to 50 participants in a location prepared for such purpose is allowed. To organise a public event for more than 50 participants in a location prepared for such purpose and to organise a public event in a location not designated for such an event is allowed only with the consent of the protected area manager.
More detailed information on the restrictions is available in the protection rules of the Piusa Caves Nature Reserve. For further information contact the Environmental Board (e-mail: info@keskkonnaamet.ee, tel. +372 662 5999).