PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Åland Islands, at the junction of the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, belong to Finland but form an autonomous province completely populated by Swedish-speaking people. The archipelago is covered by calcareous soil with comparatively high pH and this has, coupled to the influence of traditional agriculture, allowed species-rich wooded meadows, groves, open pastures and heaths to develop. Many of the islands are essential nesting spots for numerous species of gulls and other birds such as the corncrake (Crex crex), and also the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) uses the area as a breeding site. Overgrowth of the valuable meadow habitat types was the main threat to the Natura 2000 sites in the Islands. Particularly the wooded meadows were common in the Åland landscape until the beginning of the 20th century, when they slowly started to disappear because of changes in agriculture; grazing cattle and the use of wooded meadows decreased. So the main target of this LIFE project was to overcome this trend and to restore these wooded meadows, open pastures, groves and other man-made habitat types, because of their outstanding biodiversity.
OBJECTIVES
The project aimed at restoring wooded meadows, wooded pastures and other semi-natural habitats which depend on continuous management (mowing, grazing) for their long-term sustainability. It would clear away overgrowth, so that the seed bank is reactivated, and do the required investments (equipment, fencing) to allow regular management of restored grasslands. Measures were carried out at seven sites scattered through the Åland archipelago, three on isolated islands away from the Åland mainland. They included clearing and logging trees on 64 ha, fencing of 130 ha, haymaking on 14 ha and thinning the tree canopy at three sites. The LIFE project intended to take advantage of all four seasons when restoring its seven sites. In winter trees would be cleared and thinned and the work plans for the coming seasons would be made. In spring fallen branches would be removed, while in summer the sites would be managed by grazing, mowing and haymaking. The autumn would be used for fence building and other construction work. Because the area is also popular for outdoor recreation, the project would channel visitors by laying out trails and providing information on how to avoid disturbance of sensitive zones.
RESULTS
The project objectives were fully met, even with a small over-delivery in terms of size of restored area. The seven subsites where work was carried out were Natö, Espholm, Södra Järsö, Björkör, Herrö, Idö and Östra Langskär-Sandskär. This project, like several other LIFE-Nature projects, had a pattern of a labour-intensive restoration phase, i.e. restoring habitats dependent on traditional land-use (wooded meadows, open pastures, groves etc) to a favourable conservation status, followed by the establishment of a long-term recurring management (hay-making and/or grazing). The LIFE-Nature support was necessary in order to get enough resources together for a large-scale restoration effort of heavily overgrown semi-natural habitats. • Over a total 65 ha trees were logged and cleared. • In 21 ha, the tree canopies were thinned. • Grazing, mowing and haymaking was done on 15,5 ha. • Fences were erected around 143,5 ha (including reparation and maintenance of already existing fences) • On 8 ha, ditches were cleared of overgrowth During the project, vegetation surveys were carried out to assess the results. Contacts were laid with the similar LIFE-Nature projects Stora Alvaret in Sweden and Archipelago National Park in Finland. Five FFH habitats were represented in the seven sites: Baltic esker islands; boreal Baltic coastal meadows; Fennoscandian lowland species-rich dry to mesic grasslands; Fennoscandian wooded meadows; Fennoscandian wooded pastures. Particularly for the Fennoscandian wooded pastures (FFH code *6530), the project brought a clear benefit. Positive effects were also recorded for Orchis mascula and Dactylorhiza sambucina after clearing of wooded meadows and pastures, and for the Annex I birds Crex crex and Lanius collurio. Lessons learned during the project were: young trees and shrubs must not be totally removed from areas cleared in order to secure long-term recruitment and a mixed age structure of woody plants; canopies of ash and elm can be thinned year-round but birch and alder only in August and September; burning has positive ecological effects. To channel visitors, 13 picnic sites were built and two nature trails (on Björkör and on Södra Järsö). Existing information boards were updated. A general brochure covering all sites was printed as well as specific leaflets for Espholm and Södra Järsö. The project contributed to an increase of the general interest and understanding among the public. The project has led to some general reflections about the reference framework for restoration projects. For meadow, pasture and grassland habitats, the nature conservation values are often linked to a land use with little or no economic incentive today. The Åland project was strongly linked to the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage, e.g through the use of old-time techniques and using old maps and photographs as references for the desired outcome. This "unspoken" reference to the cultural heritage and traditional land-use was quite apparent in the project. Setting targets included deciding between conflicting issues, e.g. to go for a high grazing pressure to favour a species-rich flora or less intensive grazing in order to favour other nature conservation values. The wooded meadow and pasture habitats are highly dependent on grazing and/or mowing for the long term preservation of their favourable conservation status. The LIFE project mainly restored land in public ownership and the beneficiary used own funds and staff for grazing and mowing, but considered that recurring management by farmers would be better (staff are expensive and have fixed worked schedules, whereas the work is highly dependent on seasons and weather). Availability of grazers as well as technical skills competence to do the work in the field were additional challenges. The experience of this project led the beneficiary to formulate some ideas for a general agricultural policy to provide better incentives for farmers to integrate small-scale grazing in habitats of high conservation value. The long-term recurring management was thus the most important challenge for the future with reference to the maintenance of the nature conservation benefits achieved during the LIFE project. Control of overgrowth and a satisfactory grazing pressure are crucial. The maintenance of competence and "know-how" for this type of land management among the local farmers might become a challenge.