Tallinn University (TLU) is the third largest public university in Estonia with 9500 students in 20 institutes and 5 colleges. Its main strengths lie in the fields of humanities and social sciences but it also has a strong and constantly growing component of natural and exact sciences, as well as a notable tradition of teacher training and educational research.

The international dimension today is an integral part of the university and is reflected in all of its core areas. The Institute of Ecology at Tallinn University is a R&D institution with a main research focus on development and functionality of wetlands. The IoE consists of 35 researchers and 3 members of assisting staff. The strength of IoE is its knowledge on the functionality and development of ecosystems and experiences in implementing this knowledge through environemntal policy and sustainable development issues. The aim of the Institute for the coming years is to integrate sustainability in the curriculum and to support the development of relevant teaching skills of the academic staff, by introducing innovative teaching methods.

Besides excellent research results, traditionally IoE has been involved on the preparation of different environmental and sustainable policy assessments and strategies initiated by state offices. For example, IoE entered in partnership with the Tallinn University to prepare the Sustainable Development action plan for Estonia (SE21). IoE has prepared National capacity needs self-assessment for global environmental management in Estonia. Since then, IoE has given consultations for the Ministry of Environment about sustainable development issues and environmental policy. Also IoE regularly undertakes consultations on environmental assessments and ecosystem services for private companies. IoE is also participating in the Environment Protection and Technology Strategic Programme of Estonia.

Recent research projects of the IoE include, among others:

• Sustainable management and environmental protection of landscapes under strong humand induced influences (PI Jaanus Terasmaa)
• Evauation of changes in climate and environmental condition using dynamic discharge models (PI Hannes Tõnisson)
• Analysis of Relationships between Near-Shore Wave Parametres and Sediment Movement on Gravel-Pebble Shores (Principal Investigator (PI) Hannes Tõnisson)
• 20th Century Eutrophication History in Small Hardwater Lakes based on Multi-Proxy Sediment Studies (PI Tiiu Koff)
• Dynamic Landscape Analysis in Southern Estonia (DYLAN-Estonia): Spatial Dynamics of vegetation and Land cover through time (PI Shinya Sugita)

Role of IOE in the project:

• Coodinate the mapping exercise in Estonia and complete the template for data collection.
• Assist in the development of an online platform of resources as well as get familiarised and review the online tool.
• Contribute to the bi-annual newsletters.
• Translate project materials into the national language.
• Provide feedback to the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework.
• Contribute to the dissemination and exploitation of the project outputs, outcomes and future network activities.
• Participate and actively contribute to the discussions generated in regional and annual meetings, seminars and conference.

Operational and financial management:

• The project team will coordinate the above administrative and academic project activities.
• Financial administration will be handled by the project team who will liaise internally with the institution’s finance department.