Background Petrifying springs with tufa formation (a habitat type listed in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive - *7220) are among the most valuable and ecologically interesting European ecosystems, and also among the most difficult to protect. Protection of springs is not only a question of protecting the physical feature defined as the spring. In Estonia, the springs can form complexes with transition mires, fens, calcareous grasslands, etc. In order to preserve this habitat, it is also essential to preserve its surroundings and the entire hydrological system, not only within the habitat type's topographical catchment area, but also its hydrological catchment area. Objectives The LIFE Springday project aims to prevent the degradation of petrifying spring habitats and to achieve or maintain their “favourable” conservation status. This will help to improve the conservation prospects of the many associated rare and endangered species and habitats that they support. The project will focus on the conservation aspects of petrifying spring habitats in three Natura 2000 sites in Estonia. The project’s main objectives are to: Carry out detailed field surveys and data analyses using best available methods; Draw up a conservation plan and monitoring guidelines; Formulate protection proposals that will be provided to competent authorities; Restore the surroundings of springs (clearing of shrubs, trees and forest-like vegetation); Restore the natural hydrological regime of springs and their surrounding habitats (fine tuning of the water level through drainage-ditch filling, dredging of neighbouring streams, etc..); Remove mud, reeds and floating herbage from spring streams and lake Prästvike; Design and create rapids (to disperse stones into the stream-bed of the springs); Remove obstacles from spring streams; Construct/reconstruct wooden nature trails with information boards, in order to prevent trampling around the springs; Network with other LIFE+ projects dealing with similar conservation issues; Disseminate the project results (training seminars, booklets, articles). Expected results: The project’s main expected results are: A maintenance strategy and detailed conservation plan for petrifying spring habitats; Publication of long-term monitoring guidelines; The restoration of the natural hydrological regime of petrifying springs and their surrounding valuable habitats, covering an area of 1960 ha; Improved habitat and hydrological characteristics for 50 spring habitats in three project areas; 14 500 metres of drainage ditches filled, in order to restore the natural water levels; Shrubs, reed and floating plants removed from a 30-ha area related to petrifying springs and their surrounding habitats; Approximately 1 000 metres of nature trails constructed/reconstructed around the spring habitats, in order to prevent major trampling; Greater awareness about petrifying spring habitats, conservation approaches and maintenance measures among the wider public and relevant field experts/specialists; 1 000 booklets produced and disseminated; Six training seminars for environmental specialists carried out, with 50 experts/specialists trained. Reaching these goals will result in improved prospects for the maintenance and/or restoration of the “favourable” conservation status of the 23 most valuable petrifying spring habitats, and their surrounding areas, in Estonia.