In order to start using the already overgrown alvars as pastures again, it is necessary first to thin out the junipers there and make space for animals to move. This is a laborious undertaking that the Estonian Fund for Nature does over and over again with the help of volunteers. For five consecutive summers, this has also been supported by the LIFE-IP project ForEst&FarmLand, which is why the Estonian Fund for Nature has had the chance to work also in a relatively remote area – the Kesselaiu alvar. It has been a pleasure to see how the areas being restored continue to expand and connect with each other. If there is even a slight decrease in junipers, the sheep instantly come to look around. Indrek Allmann, a new resident of Kesselaiu, on whose lands we are working, also notes that there are more birds nesting in these areas than before.
Cutting & Burning Trees on Deserted Island
This summer, we were accompanied by Dima, a Latvian boy who takes part in nature restoration working bees around the world with his camera. Click on the picture to see his overview of the working bee at Kesselaiu! Isn’t it inspiring?
But what is this alvar that the volunteers are restoring? An alvar is a species-rich semi-natural grassland found only in western Estonia and the islands of eastern Sweden on thin, limestone-rich soils. Historically, sheep and horses have grazed on alvars, but once grazing stopped, the alvars were relatively quickly overgrown with junipers and thus their species-richness is at risk. Plants like the catsfoot, common rock-rose, wild thyme, mountain clover etc are a sign that the alvar is in a good condition.