Man’s Involvement
Man’s Involvement
A good wetland is made up of a number of small biotopes. Many of these small biotopes, though, are not built by themselves. In Uppland, shore meadows have been used by humans for several hundred years, for harvesting reeds and sedges for use as hay. The harvest of shore meadows created large open meadows with no bushes or trees. Many kinds of birds, plants, and insects thrive in this open type of landscape.
In the 1800’s and early 1900’s, farmers wanted access to more arable land in Uppland. Water levels were regulated in many lakes to prevent the flooding of fields in the spring. After the lake levels were lowered, much of the land began to grow over with reeds and shrubs. This overgrowth happened around the same time that demand for hay was declining. Instead of using the meadows for hay, farmers began to convert some of this area to farmland, while other areas were left to grow over. Vast reedy areas and alder forests expanded at the expense of shore meadows.
Today, some shore meadows have been restored to benefit the unusual plants and animals that live there. Near Hjälstaviken and Ledskär you can experience the open landscape that was formed from grazing cows. You can contribute to restoring this landscape by eating meat from cows that graze in these pastures! More information on these projects can be found by contacting the Uppland Foundation (Upplandsstiftelsen).
Upplandsstiftelsen In English