PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Controlled burning can support the conservation of many sites of priority habitat type 9010 (*Western Taïga) and, to some extent, habitat 9060 (Coniferous forests on, or connected to, glaciofluvial eskers) Up until 150 years ago, 1% of the wooded area burned annually. Today less than 0.016% burns annually. The reduction in the frequency of fires is one of the major ecological changes that have taken place in woodlands since the 1800s. Over time, fires have led to the development of pyrophilic organisms. We know today that some 40 insects and some 50 fungi species are dependent on burned wood and burned ground for their survival. Hundreds of other species, such as flies, bees and crabronids, also benefit from fires. Many of the organisms dependent on fire are rare and are on the Swedish Red List, and some of them are listed in the Habitats and the Birds Directives. If these fire-dependent habitats and species are to survive, then the number of controlled fires in the wooded landscape must increase.
OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of LifeTaiga project included:
- Transforming a significant proportion western taiga (9010) in Sweden from unfavourable to favourable conservation status;
- Developing suitable methods for controlled burning, as well as training and encouraging authorities, companies, organisations and contractors associated with controlled burning;
- Promoting a dialogue and delivering good quality, easy-to-understand information to landowners, local residents, visitors and the general public on the issue of controlled burning; and
- Developing mutual collaboration with Finland in relation to the management of the target habitat.
RESULTS
LifeTaiga resulted in the reintroduction of controlled burning in Boreal western taiga woodlands in Sweden.
The project team:
- Conducted 101 controlled burning events on a total area of 2 544 ha, corresponding to 0.2% of the Western Taiga habitat type (9010) in Sweden.
- Established more than 12 000 m of fences – enclosing 84 ha of burnt area, to enhance regrowth of deciduous trees. Biotopes with bare sand were also established on 4 ha.
- Conducted activities for enhancing the population of Eastern pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens), which have increased the population of the species from 222 to 1 192 individual flowering plants, corresponding to a five times increase.
- Developed guidelines for secure implementation of controlled burning and conducted training courses for project staff, contractors and local fire-brigades. The project led to a refinement of the method for controlled burning, which is now available as a documented tool for restoring Western Taiga.
- Developed a database to store information on planning and effects of controlled burning.
- Implemented monitoring that has demonstrated the effect of burning on EU Habitats Directive insect species dependent on burned wood, as well as woodpeckers.
During the project’s dissemination campaign, the beneficiaries arranged several seminars and worked actively to reach new target audiences via innovative approaches such as a mobile app, QR-coded information signs, and an interactive website. In 9 of the participating counties, visitor facilities and trails have been developed to provide information on the ecology aspects of controlled burning to the general public.
A special effort has been made to establish a dialogue with the indigenous Saami people, who depend on grazing opportunities for reindeer in the forests in northern Sweden. The project team ensured that populations of reindeer moss were restored after burning.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).
