PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Liminganlahti wetland is a wide shallow bay in the Northerm Gulf of Bothnia. It was formed by the weight of Ice Age glaciers, but with that weight now gone, the land is rising again (isostatic uplift) so that the shoreline and its associated wetlands are moving out into the bay at a rate measured in kilometres per century. This very unusual situation has created a remarkable, ever-changing landscape of extensive shallows, sludgy shore areas, shore meadows and reed beds. The shore meadows and pastures shaped over time by traditional mowing or grazing are unique and exceptionally well-preserved. The winter ice cover persists for months and this, coupled with the flatness of the land, has a powerful impact on the local flora and fauna. The area is globally important for birds: tens of thousands of migrating birds use it annually for breeding or staging; 13 endangered bird species and 31 species in Annex 1 of the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) use the area. There are Habitats Directive priority habitat types found in the area and it harbours very rare plant species. (See Habitats Directive category 16. Boreal Baltic archipelago, coastal and land upheaval areas.)
OBJECTIVES
The objective is to build consensus on the sustainable use of the district. This will include protecting the natural values of Liminganlahti area by integrating management, protection and other land use modes in a way compatible with sustainable development. To achieve this, a novel consultation approach will be tested. The project area is divided into five sub-regions, each with a working group of project partners, environmental NGOs, hunters, fishermen, landowners and other affected interest groups. Each group will draw up a management plan for its sub-region, and those are to be merged into one master plan.
A total of 1 500 ha of nature conservation areas will be established. Practical measures including purchase (850 ha) and ecological management of the most threatened sites will be carried out.
It is planned to establish networks between interested local parties, along with international contacts. Computer-based nature education packages for pupils at all levels are to be developed and tested in collaboration with local schools.
RESULTS
Local groups were actively involved in planning the general sustainable use plan for the project area. Plans were drawn up, based on preparatory studies, and a general plan was accepted by a steering group in 1998. It had no legal status but was being integrated into municipality land use plans before the end of the project.
As land was often owned by landowner associations, ecologically valuable areas (1 794 ha) were either bought, swapped, leased, placed under hunting restrictions, or management agreements. Besides these, a 775 ha nature conservation (no hunting) area was established.
Other project actions included:
The building of dams at outflows to restore 25 ha of coastal lagoons;
Subjecting an area of 149 ha to agri-environment measures;
Cutting of 492 ha of reed beds (124 ha with direct LIFE funding);
Small-scale removal of reeds and scrubs on 26 ha (22 ha through LIFE);
Initial mowing and clearance of 406 ha of shore meadows (250 ha charged to LIFE); and
Establishment of 612 ha of grazing management.
Education packages and public awareness material was also produced. Some 30 000 people visit Liminganlahti each year and visitor numbers increased during the project.Local groups were actively involved in planning the general sustainable use plan for the project area. Plans were drawn up, based on preparatory studies, and a general plan was accepted by a steering group in 1998. It had no legal status but was being integrated into municipality land use plans before the end of the project.
As land was often owned by landowner associations, ecologically valuable areas (1 794 ha) were either bought, swapped, leased, placed under hunting restrictions, or management agreements. Besides these, a 775 ha nature conservation (no hunting) area was established.
Other project actions included:
The building of dams at outflows to restore 25 ha of coastal lagoons;
Subjecting an area of 149 ha to agri-environment measures;
Cutting of 492 ha of reed beds (124 ha with direct LIFE funding);
Small-scale removal of reeds and scrubs on 26 ha (22 ha through LIFE);
Initial mowing and clearance of 406 ha of shore meadows (250 ha charged to LIFE); and
Establishment of 612 ha of grazing management.
Education packages and public awareness material was also produced. Some 30 000 people visit Liminganlahti each year and visitor numbers increased during the project.