Introduction

The high nature values of reed beds and coastal meadows

Reed beds and coastal meadows are typical habitats along the South-Finnish and Estonian coasts. The reed beds are most common; altogether, they extend over about 30000ha along Finland’s southern coastal areas and approximately 20000ha in the Väinameri region of Estonia. Coastal meadows are more rare. In fact a large area was replaced by reed due to the lack of or the change in traditional management.

Reed beds and coastal meadows are of the highest importance for biodiversity. They are sanctuaries for a great number of typical species and communities. For example in these northern regions, five bird species depend completely on the reed beds for nesting and foraging: Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Bearded tit (Panurus Biarmicus), Reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirmaceus), Great reed warbler (A. arundinaceus) and Water rail (Rallus aquaticus). Thus it is not surprising that out of the 10 largest reed beds in Southern Finland, nine are Natura 2000 sites.

Deterioration and restoration of reed beds

The change of land use practices not only had a direct negative impact on biodiversity, especially that of the coastal meadows: the general functioning of the ecosystems also deteriorated. Thus, in the large rivers, the purification potential dropped considerably, causing a severe pressure on the Baltic sea, where, consequently, the system also changed and the purification potential decreased accordingly. The resulting blooms of toxic algae are well known in this respect. Solving this complex problem may only be possible when an integrated and adapted management of the reed beds is adopted.

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Economic and cultural value of reed beds

Besides being an important habitat for biodiversity and contributing to the purification of the sea water, reed beds also provide other services. They produce construction material for the traditional roofs, they may supply fuel for bio-energy and in combination with coastal meadows they form a very attractive landscape with a high cultural value, ideal for recreation and leisure activities. So, the coastal zone reed beds and meadows form an optimal network of habitats that serve water protection, biodiversity, recreational and utilization purposes simultaneously.

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Management for multiple purposes

The multiple functions of reed beds were taken as the starting point for the preparation of an integrated management plan for these habitats along the South-Finnish and Estonian coast. The aim is to manage the reed beds with an emphasis on biodiversity, as well as on water quality protection, bio-energy production, construction material production, landscape values, recreation and cultural heritage. To be effective and appropriate, the aim is to select management techniques and equipment that will enable all objectives to be achieved in a balanced way. The whole idea resulted in the Finnish Reed Strategy Vision 2018.

As it deals with a complex ecosystem that has to be studied and managed on a landscape scale, and because the potential objectives and benefits are varied, the elaboration of such an integrated management plan for the Finnish reed beds started with an interdisciplinary analysis of the ecosystem and extended surveys. these yielded the data necessary to make the plan. A detailed mapping and typology of the reed vegetations served as the basis. Then a landscape ecological interpretation and a study of the landscape history elucidated the spatial inter-relations and the environmental conditions of the ecosystems. Finally, the quality of the different reed beds for the production of construction material, the biomass of the beds, their importance for biodiversity, for water quality control, recreation and landscape values, were assessed.

Cutting is the main technique for reed management. Burning is sometimes applied in order to start the restoration of former coastal meadows. The well-developed meadows are mown and grazed by cattle. In the management scheme, the frequency and timing of the mowing and cutting of the reed beds are in line with the requirements of the different goals set for individual sites that are included in the target area of the plan. Winter harvest yields a dry biomass, suitable as a fuel for bio-energy production, and as material for roof construction, garden covers, decoration, etc. To create optimal reed habitat conditions for biodiversity, winter harvest is preferred. Cutting and mowing during the summer season is preferable to reduce the nutrient content of the system (when cut in late summer), to produce fodder for cattle (when mown in early summer), to produce bio-gas as an energy source and last but not least to restore the coastal meadows.

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Future tasks

In the project "Reed Strategy in Finland and Estonia" (Interreg IIIA), the objectives for the reed beds along the coast of southern Finland were defined, the surveys and analyses were completed and the appropriate management techniques selected. What needs to be done now, is the further organization and the division of tasks and responsibilities in order to achieve the multiple goals. A promotion campaign that highlights the added value of nature’s products ('meat with the flavour of a diverse and species rich landscape') should accompany the management, so that they find their way to the market and feasibility of the management is ensured.

More details

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