Good Practice - Project
Northern agricultural landscapes – traditional landscape management project in North Ostrobothnia
Promoting sustainable landscape management to protect the valuable traditional biotopes and landscapes of North Ostrobothnia.
General information
RDP Priority
- P6. Social inclusion and local development
RDP Focus Area
- 6B: Local development
RDP Measure
- M07: Basic services & village renewal
Beneficiary type
- Advisory service
Summary
In Finland, training workshops were held to improve the management of 11 valuable traditional biotopes and landscapes. The project was implemented by a farm advisory organisation and involved cooperation with farmers, landscape management companies and local municipalities in the North Ostrobothnia region.
Results
- 33 project participants received on-site consultancy support with their own management actions. The project produced several landscape management guides, surveys and reports, which are available on the project website.
- Thanks to the project's 40 events, which attracted 860 participants, a new community of interest emerged concerning the maintenance of traditional biotopes and landscapes. This includes the project’s Facebook page, which now has 660 followers.
Promoter
ProAgria Oulu
Funding
RDP support: 163 402 (EUR)
EAFRD: 68 629 (EUR)
National/Regional: 94 773 (EUR)
Resources
Documents
Good Practice Report - Northern agricultural landscapes – traditional landscape management project in North Ostrobothnia
(PDF – 1.07 MB)
Context
Traditional agricultural biotopes in the North Ostrobothnia region are among the most endangered ecosystems in Finland. Their management is most effective when linked to daily farm work and routines. This enhances biodiversity and preserves the landscape in this popular rural tourism destination.
Objectives
The aim of this project was to improve the management of at least ten traditional biotopes and landscapes. This would be achieved through the delivery of a training programme and close cooperation between the project applicant, farmers (especially cattle farmers), landscape management companies and local municipalities in the North Ostrobothnia region.
Activities
Project activities included:
- Identifying and selecting traditional biotope and landscape areas (from nationally valuable landscape areas and Natura2000 protected areas) in cooperation with local municipalities.
- Organising trainings, lectures, workshops, on-site landscape management events, voluntary work events, site visits and study trips, as well as info stands at agricultural fairs. The programme content covered issues such as grazing contracts, meadow management, landscape management sponsorship, seed banks, shepherding, landscape as a product/service and landscape management as a source of income.
Main results
- As envisaged, the project supported management activities on 11 valuable traditional biotope and landscape areas. Overall, 20 workshops were delivered to 234 participants, and a total of 40 different events - of which 32 were face-to-face, seven online and one hybrid – brought some 860 participants together.
- The project produced several landscape management guides, surveys and reports, which are now available via the project website. 33 project participants received on-site consultancy support with their management actions.
- Thanks to the project, a new community of interest has emerged concerning the maintenance of traditional biotopes and landscapes. This includes the project’s Facebook page, which now has 660 followers.
Key lessons
- It was important to allocate enough time and resources to case sites. Sometimes, even one person’s voluntary work contribution can be significant when establishing a landscape management plan. It is also important to know the local area and available resources, such as whether there are cattle farms nearby.
- The knowledge gained and the enthusiasm shared through this project could be spread to other valuable, traditional biotopes and landscapes of the North Ostrobothnia region and beyond.