The Environmental Board introduces the objectives and activities of the project “LIFE to alvars” on the ferries sailing between the largest islands of Estonia from June to September to increase the awareness of people about the importance of alvars.
Alvars are semi-natural grasslands with thin calcareous soil, the formation and maintenance of which is closely related to human activity – mainly to herding. Alvars which are in a good condition are characterised by low, non-productive and diverse vegetation which mostly includes plants that like calcareous soil and that can bear extreme growth conditions.
“Besides wooded meadows, alvars are the most biodiverse communities of Estonia regarding the number of vascular plants. Typical species that grow on alvars are, for example, wild thyme, stonecrop, kidney vetch, and catsfoot. The most common orchids there are military orchid, early-purple orchid, fly orchid, and fragrant orchid. In addition, alvars are characterised by a very limited spread in the whole world which makes them communities which are globally rare and which, therefore, also need protection. Besides Estonia, alvars are only found on the large island of Sweden, mainly Öland and Gotland,” said Annely Esko, Project Coordinator of the Environmental Board, explaining the importance of alvars.
In order to maintain the biodiversity indigenous to alvars, pines need to be removed from the overgrown alvar, coverage of junipers needs to be decreased and animals have to be herded there. Without herding, bushes and junipers will grow in the communities and the indigenous species composition is decreased.
“Clips shown on the ferries provide the visitors of the islands preliminary information on why the restoration of the pastures is so important and where can one go and see a restored alvar, if desired. In addition, the visitors can see a permanent exhibition introducing the biota of the alvars in the Orjaku harbour of the island of Hiiumaa and in the Sõrve visitor centre of the island of Saaremaa. For children, a fun game has been set up in both places where they can create their own alvar and herd it with sheep,” told Annely Esko.
In 2017, 60 contracts were entered into with local cattle farmers for the restoration and further maintenance of alvars. The restoration has been carried out and the herding has been restarted on an area of 1,380 hectares: 580 hectares on the island of Saaremaa, 425 hectares of the island of Hiiumaa, 362 hectares on the island of Muhumaa, and 15 hectares in Pärnu County.
The objective of the project “LIFE to alvars” is to restore and maintain the landscape indigenous to West Estonia and the islands – pastures with junipers. The activities are carried out during the period 2009–2019 in cooperation with the University of Tartu, the Estonian University of Life Sciences, the Estonian Seminatural Community Conservation Association, and the State Forest Management Centre.
In the course of the project, 2,500 hectares of alvars are restored, infrastructure necessary for herding is established, access roads to pastures are renovated, information on the importance of alvars is provided to the participants of the project and to the public, and information boards introducing alvars are placed in all project areas. In addition, possibilities to increase the value of the wood, beef and wool obtained from the alvars are searched for and cooperation between undertakings is promoted to ensure sustainability of the work to be carried out and a greater independence from grants in the future.
More information can be found at the homepage of the project http://life.envir.ee/elualvaritel.
Additional information:
Annely Esko
Project Coordinator of the Environmental Board
E-mail: annely.esko@keskkonnaamet.ee
Phone: 511 6738
