Coastal meadows and wetlands of Öland - experiences of a nature conservancy project

The project in a nutshell The purpose of the project was to recreate wet and moist, properly grazed habitats in Öland. During millennia of intensive grazing, the landscape of Öland was dominated by large expanses of open country, copiously dotted with accumulations of water, the size of which varied with the changing seasons. But changing agricultural practices brought a reduction of grazing, the disappearance of the hay meadows and the draining of wetlands. The landscape was greatly transformed in the 20th century. The diversity of birdlife and plant life diminished, and characteristic Öland species were lost. The LIFE project Coastal Meadows and Wetlands in the Agrarian Landscape of Öland lasted from 2000 to 2005.