Objective
Whilst the surveyors' work was in progress, local organisations also carried out a biological inventory of the area in an attempt to identify sites of special interest for nature conservation. Altogether 12 sites were found to be of sufficient importance to merit protection as nature reserves and proposed SCIs. Most are dominated by western taiga, but there are also other habitats worthy of conservation, for example raised bogs, bog woodlands, transition mires and alluvial Alnus forests.
In order to raise funds for the purchase and management of these future nature reserves, a special foundation, Gagnefs NaturvDrdsfond, was established. This organisation is made up of the Gagnef Outdoor Recreation Association, the Gagnef Nature Conservation Society and the Township of Gagnef and so enjoys strong local support. Having raised part of the money from the Commune and the State Conservation Agency the foundation applied -successfully - to the LIFE fund for the remaining 50%. The present project will therefore involve the purchase of land in the 12 sites and some initial management and public awareness measures.
When land passes down the family line it is often split into ever diminishing parcels. At some stage the parcels become so small that they are no longer of much economic value, particularly if they are to be used for present day forestry. Also, with the passage of time, the identity of the owner is sometimes lost, the last of the generation having perhaps emigrated or died several decades ago. This is what has happened in the township of Gagnef.
In order to resolve the complex issue of ownership and create consolidated holdings that are more appropriate for forestry, the County Board ordered a full scale land reform. Each existing parcel was surveyed and proposals made for consolidating them into viable units, in some cases owners were offered economic compensation instead of land.
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
78041 Gagnef
Sweden