San Eastóin, timpeall 2500 láithreáin traidisiúnta nádúrtha naofa, chlúdaíonn réimsí mór talún is eol go bhfuil spioradálta suntasach, luachanna oidhreacht chultúrtha agus nádúrtha. Tá tuilleadh taighde agus doiciméadú ag súil go nochtann líonra de a oiread agus is 7000 suíomh nádúrtha naofa sa tír ina n-aonar.
Le tacaíocht ó Aireacht Eastóinis an Chomhshaoil an NGO “Teach Eastóinis de Taara agus Reiligiúin Dúchasacha (Taarausuliste ja Maausuliste Maavalla Koda)” aistrithe an UNESCO IUCN “Láithreáin Nádúrtha Naofa, Treoirlínte do Bhainisteoirí Ceantair Chosanta” san Eastóinis. Maavalla Koda i gcomhar le hinstitiúidí comhshaoil stáit anois in ann úsáid a bhaint as na Treoirlínte aitheantas a fheabhsú, cosaint agus cur chun cinn na suíomh nádúrtha naofa. Beidh na Treoirlínte cur i bhfeidhm an Aireacht ar phlean caomhnaithe cultúir náisiúnta do shuímh nádúrtha naofa agus tabharfar tacaíocht oiliúna d'oifigigh stáit agus chaomhnóirí na láithreán nádúrtha naofa. Chun na críche sin bunaíodh grúpa tacaíochta ag 17 baill na parlaiminte Eastóinis in earrach na bliana 2011.
Tá na Treoirlínte ar líon na 16 sa Choimisiún Domhanda ar Limistéir Chosanta’ Sraith Cleachtas is Fearr (léargas anseo) agus tá forbairt déanta ag an ngrúpa Saineolaí ar Luachanna Cultúrtha agus spioradálta de Limistéir chosanta. "Tá na Treoirlínte i éileamh ard. Ó seoladh ag an Domhain IUCN Caomhnaithe Comhdháil i 2008 siad a bheith aistrithe ón mBéarla go Rúisis, Spanish and Estonian whilst French and Japanese versions are in the making” says Mr. Robert Fiáin, co-author of the Guidelines and chair to CSVPA. With support of the WCPA and the Christensen Fund the Guidelines are currently being translated, tested, reviewed and expanded with new case studies by the Sacred Natural Sites Initiative.
The Estonian case of sacred natural sites conservation is one of approximately 35 cases that are part of the Delos Tionscnamh, an initiative working to improve the conservation of scared natural sites in technologically developed countries. “During the third workshop of the Delos Initiative in Inari in 2010 I learned about the efforts of IUCN’s Specialist Group on Cultural and spiritual Values to protect and conserve sacred natural sites world wide. I realised that the IUCN UNESCO Guidelines would be a very effective tool for conserving sacred natural sites in Estonia” says Mr. Atho Kaasik the elder of Maavalla Koda.
Although the total area of Estonia is no more than 47.000 km2, several different linguistic and cultural areas are found within its territory, and hence there are also regional variations in the types and names of sacred natural sites. Mar shampla, rocks and trees used for healing are common in the western part of the country. Communal sites bearing the name of na (sacred grove) are spread in the northern and western parts of the country. The tradition of cross-trees associated with funeral customs is preserved only in South-East Estonia.
From a wider perspective, Estonian sacred natural sites form part of Fenno-Ugric sacred site traditions. For historical reasons, Estonian traditional religion maausk has largely evolved as familial, personal and confidential. Sacred natural Sites are used for praying, healing, asking for blessing to one’s marriage, giving a name to one’s child, counselling, making offerings and carrying out various rituals, especially on holy days of the folk calendar. Sa lá atá inniu, sacred natural sites are under threat of extinction mainly because of lack of legal regulation and awareness about sacred natural sites.
