LIFE Læsø

Protecting and conserving open habitats and species on Læsø

Facts

Project type: EU Life and Natura 2000
Period: 2012-2018
Status: Completed April 2018
Partners: EU Life and Læsø Municipality
Financing: App. 16 mio. kr. - EU Life finances 50%

Natura 2000 sites: 2 SACs + 1 SPA, in total approx. 4.500 hectare

Targeted bird species

English NameScientific nameB/MPopulation startEnd of project
Avocet

Recurvirostra avosetta

B

120 pairs

250 pairs

Dunlin (Baltic)

Calidris alpina schzinii

B

9 – 14 pairs

25 pairs

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareola

B

none

Suitable areas

Artic Tern

Sterna paradisaea

B

500 – 800 pairs

800 pairs

Little Tern

Sternula albifrons

B

20-25 pairs

30 pairs

Brant Goose

Branta bernicla bernicla

M

700 - 1200

1500 birds

Dunlin

Calidris alpina alpina

M

10000

45000 birds

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

M

4000

4000 birds

B = breeding, M = migrating

Targeted habitats

#

name

Area (approx.)

Expected increase (hectare)

1330

Salt meadow

1509

 

2130*

Grey dunes

293

 

2140*

Dunes with Empetrum nigrum

536

 

3110 + 3130

Oligotrophic lakes

5

 

4010

Wet heaths

299

15

4030

Dry heaths.

382

35

6230*

Species-rich poor grassland

64

7-10

6410

Molinia meadows

21

3-5

7230

Alkaline fens

6

1

 

Invasive alien Species involved

  • Rosa rugosa
  • Spartina spp.

Indirectly targeted by the project partners

  • Create an understanding of common goals in the society
  • Create jobs related to livestock and holistic area management
  • Utilize surplus livestock following the project – slaughterhouse / produce high quality products
  • Create jobs within dissemination / nature tourism

Actions

Action

Name

Absolute goals

Minimum goals

A1

Formation of a landowners association

All landowners as members

“80 %”

A2

Permissions

As needed

Same

A3

Hydrological investigation

Entire project area

Same

C1

Clearing trees / scrubs

535 hectare

366 hectare

C2

Clearing of emerging trees / scrubs

240 hectare

179 hectare

C3

Clearing non-native woody spp.

78 hectare

Same

C4

Clearing Japanese rose

24 hectare (current distribution)

Same

C5

Clearing cord grass

15 hectare (current distribution)

Same

C6

Establish cattle and sheep herds

1,000 cows + 1,200 sheep

Same

C7

Creating enclosures

3,272 ha. (new + existing)

Same

C8

Controlled burning

868 hectare

434 hectare

C9

Infra-structure

Maintenance + habitat protection

N/A

C10

Control foxes, mink & hooded crow

Reduce numbers substantially

Same

C11

Restore natural hydrology

As per A3 recommendations

 

C12

Landowners association

Coherent management

Same

D,E,F

Compulsory

 

 

Contact

Søren Møller Pedersen
Project assistant
The Nature Agency Vendsyssel
Email: sompe@nst.dk 
Telephone: +45 7254 3950
Mobile: +45 2161 8303

Stine P. Hansen
Læsø Municipality
Email: sph@laesoe.dk 
Telephone: +45 9621 3037