Restoration of an abandoned cultural landscape in a world heritage site – management of semi-natural hay meadows in the Vega Archipelago, Northern Norway

Abstract

The unique cultural landscape was one of the reason why the Vega Archipelago received World Heritage status in 2004. In this landscape generations of fishermen-farmers have combined fishing with small-scaled low intensive farming. As a result, several semi-natural habitats has evolved such as hay meadows, pasture and coastal heathlands. Due to the continuous of extensively farming combined with calcareous soil Vega Archipelago is considered a biodiversity hot spot. However today, the fishermen-farming practice is abandoned due to government policy in 1960-70s that led to centralisation and structural changes in agriculture and fishing. Islands were vacated following by a decay of the entire cultural landscape and loss of biodiversity. To conserve the semi-natural habitats with its biodiversity restoration of the abandoned cultural landscape was initiated. The main challenge are encroachment due to lack of grazing and mowing as well as soil erosion. In this project, we have studied restoration of a hay meadow exposed to erosion. In addition we have focused on generating and communicating knowledge about management methods because of the challenge that stakeholders has diminishing knowledge about traditional land use of semi-natural habitats as well as adapting traditional land use management into nowadays lifestyle and modern agriculture. Soil erosion in Vega is triggered by a combination of vegetation overgrowth and water vole (Arvicola amphibius) activity. Generally, abandoned hay meadows often are dominated by Filipendula ulmaria, leading to a reduced bottom vegetation layer and loss of a dense root system. During winter, soil is exposed to wind and precipitation. In addition, overgrown hay meadows are hiding places for water vole against predators contributing to an accelerated population growth. Hence, soil digging activity increases strengthening soil erosion. In some places soil layer is reduced to a minimum and bare rock is visible. Thus, restoring hay meadow is challenging regarding fragmented vegetation cover. Safeguard soil has major priority before focusing on restoring species richness. In this project several management methods has been introduced to halt soil erosion. The first measure is to use a seed mixture adapted to salty, northern conditions, which was combined in one trial with traditional soil improvement, by using seaweed. In addition, water vole was trapped to secure undisturbed plant species establishment. All measures were accompanied with vegetation survey in order to analyse changes in vegetation composition and finally to give management advice to land owners and agencies. The survey is ongoing and initial results indicate that trapping of water vole is the most effective management method that give immediate effect. However, establishment of a permanent vegetation cover is more time consuming, but essential for giving shelter to the aspired species-rich vegetation composition in a second step.