PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Diverse open-water wetlands are a characteristic of Finland’s natural environment. They contain ecosystems of international importance that support a rich variety of species. Finnish wetlands provide core breeding areas for many migratory bird species, especially waterfowl, and therefore they are of key importance for European bird populations. However, during the last century an estimated 4 000 lakes and an estimated 5.7 million hectares of wetlands have been lost due to drainage for agriculture and forestry in Finland. Countless small wetlands and moist forest habitat patches in forests have also been lost. As a result, ecological connections between wetlands have broken down and species can no longer move from one area to another, accelerating the loss of biodiversity.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the Return of Rural Wetlands biodiversity project was to create a framework for a future nationwide programme for wildlife habitat conservation, restoration and recreation that will operate at the local level, drawing on the strong Finnish tradition for volunteering. The project aimed to create a network of demonstrative open-water wetland sites at regional level, using a new type of participatory conservation involving public bodies, NGOs and local landowners and associations. The ultimate aim was to halt the loss of biodiversity in Finnish wetlands that are outside of the Natura 2000 network and other protection programmes.
RESULTS
The Return of Rural Wetlands project created a framework for the future conservation of rural wetlands on private land across Finland, which operates on the local level and draws upon the strong national tradition for voluntary work. The project established a national network of around 30 demonstration open-water wetland sites, using an innovative type of participatory conservation that involves public bodies, NGOs, local landowners, and associations.
As a result of the project’s conservation and restoration activities, the quality, variety and number of wetlands in rural areas was increased. The project foresees that the network it established may result in hundreds of local habitat conservation projects in forthcoming years, which will be of both regional and national importance. In total, the project restored or re-created 48 wetland sites on private land covering 340 ha (exceeding the target of at least 30 sites covering 200 ha). Restoration aimed at creating more open-water areas involved actions such as dam construction and repair, eradicating dense vegetation, soil excavation and other earthworks to create sloping and diversely meandering shorelines and artificial islands. The number of waterfowl breeding pairs and broods were significantly increased in the demonstrative sites, compared to the situation before the project actions. In addition, the project team noted a correlation between increased numbers of macro-invertebrates and duckling densities, while an increase in the presence of moor frogs was also observed in the restored wetlands.
During the project, the motivation, skills, and co-operation of local people and regional authorities for wetland conservation, restoration, and re-creation at both local and regional level was increased.
The project disseminated its findings via reports, the project website, a guidebook on wetlands restoration and other means. Two scientific theses were produced, describing in great detail the project’s methods and results.
Local environmental benefits were substantial, as the project’s demonstration wetland sites provided improved habitats for wetland flora and fauna, and improved local water flow by levelling out peak flows and binding nutrients and sediments from drainage waters. The key environmental benefit, as monitored by the project, was an increase in waterfowl. In addition, the project boosted wetland restorations at the local level, due to volunteers gaining practical experience and through the well-documented project actions and key recommendations.
The project supported the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020, Finland’s National Biodiversity Strategy for 2006-2016, and the Forest Biodiversity Programme for Southern Finland 2008-2016. Due to the involvement of the project beneficiary in two ministerial working groups responsible for preparing criteria for agro-environmental wetland subsidies for 2014-2020, the current criteria are significantly more useful for wetland restorations. Based on experience of participatory methods gained during the project, and the national management plans for game birds, the Finnish Wildlife Agency prepared its own Strategy for Nature Conservation and Management, designed to achieve socially-sustainable and cost-effective nature conservation and management in rural areas. This landowner-based working model will be applied in forestry areas to restore and improve the management of grouse and taiga bean goose habitats in areas of commercial forestry.
The participatory conservation working model can be transferred, adopted and applied by other organisations in Finland and the EU. The project team noted the lack of patents or barriers, and that it is mainly a question of attitude on how to cooperate with landowners. They stressed that it is important to minimise bureaucracy for landowners, which is often perceived as a major obstacle for nature conservation and the use of agro-environmental funds.
Local social benefits of the demonstrative wetlands are an increase in well-being due to their enhanced recreational and aesthetic value, for landowners and other stakeholders. On many sites, wetland management is run by associations that play an important role in local communities. If wetland restoration increases, it will generate opportunities for businesses to focus full-time on this activity at the regional level. In the long-term, if wetlands are restored and re-created on a large scale they can have significant indirect economic benefits due to the regulatory ecosystem services they provide, such as surface water purification, water retention, huntable waterfowl populations, recreational uses and landscape values.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
