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Commitment summary
“The Pasture-springjumping” - Information day for journalists
Inspired by Baltic Sea Action Summit, the Association for Traditional Rural Landscapes in Southwest Finland will during 2010 campaign for increasing knowledge about the management and financing of coastal meadows and river valley meadows in Baltic Sea area, especially in SW Finland.
The main event of the commitment, “The Pasture-springjumping” information day, is aimed at journalists in early summer 2010. The plan is to time the event with the very moment when the main part of the cattle of SW Finland meadow meat producers are released from their winter shelters to spring meadows and fields. The event be arranged with the help of Salmensuu Hereford farm.
During the event the professional volunteers from the Association shall guide journalists about critical situation of coastal meadows, ecosystem services maintained by the correct quality management of meadows and various benefits of meadow meat. This event will enlighten the future possibilty for optimal ecosystem service network of managed Baltic Sea coastline.
Association wants to pay special attention to the "International year of Biodiversity" 2010 in order to reduce the loss of biodiversity. One of the most threatened habitat types of international responsibility in Finland are coastal meadows. The amount of seashore meadows have drastically decreased in Finland from 40 000 hectares (1950s) to present ca. 5000 hectares. Grazing is a key action in avoiding overgrowth of the meadows and encroachment of reed beds. Cessation of management leads to quickly accelerating nutrient flow to the estuaries and sea shore meadows. The other reasons for huge loss of coastal meadows are nutrient load from air, cultivated field and land as well as drainage and establishment of cultivated fields.
The association wants to bring forth the fact the nutrient load into the Baltic Sea shall be lower from grazed (compared with unmanaged) area if the grazed parcel is managed by appropriate rules meaning no additional fodder is given for the animals during season and the area is not fenced to the same parcel with fertilized fields. Our Association has noticed that this fact is too often passed over in silence in Finnish media.
Thus correct management of coastal meadows by mowing and grazing shall decrease flux of nutrients to the Baltic Sea and enhance biodiversity. The Association shall in addition emphasize media the inverse (!) fact that eutrophication of the Baltic Sea is a threat to coastal meadows and other coastal habitats and their species.
The main event of the commitment, “The Pasture-springjumping” information day, is aimed at journalists in early summer 2010. The plan is to time the event with the very moment when the main part of the cattle of SW Finland meadow meat producers are released from their winter shelters to spring meadows and fields. The event be arranged with the help of Salmensuu Hereford farm.
During the event the professional volunteers from the Association shall guide journalists about critical situation of coastal meadows, ecosystem services maintained by the correct quality management of meadows and various benefits of meadow meat. This event will enlighten the future possibilty for optimal ecosystem service network of managed Baltic Sea coastline.
Association wants to pay special attention to the "International year of Biodiversity" 2010 in order to reduce the loss of biodiversity. One of the most threatened habitat types of international responsibility in Finland are coastal meadows. The amount of seashore meadows have drastically decreased in Finland from 40 000 hectares (1950s) to present ca. 5000 hectares. Grazing is a key action in avoiding overgrowth of the meadows and encroachment of reed beds. Cessation of management leads to quickly accelerating nutrient flow to the estuaries and sea shore meadows. The other reasons for huge loss of coastal meadows are nutrient load from air, cultivated field and land as well as drainage and establishment of cultivated fields.
The association wants to bring forth the fact the nutrient load into the Baltic Sea shall be lower from grazed (compared with unmanaged) area if the grazed parcel is managed by appropriate rules meaning no additional fodder is given for the animals during season and the area is not fenced to the same parcel with fertilized fields. Our Association has noticed that this fact is too often passed over in silence in Finnish media.
Thus correct management of coastal meadows by mowing and grazing shall decrease flux of nutrients to the Baltic Sea and enhance biodiversity. The Association shall in addition emphasize media the inverse (!) fact that eutrophication of the Baltic Sea is a threat to coastal meadows and other coastal habitats and their species.
2010 January 27
Milestones
1st Milestone
2010 January 27
Overall evaluation of the event "Pasture-springjumping" and facilitating discussion about the issue
2010 December 31
Details
Kimmo Härjämäki, (Chairman)
NGO
Finland
Kimmo Härjämäki
kimmo.harjamakiREMOVETHISCAPITALTEXT@vsperinnemaisemat.net
+358 405196545
Kimmo Härjämäki
kimmo.harjamakiREMOVETHISCAPITALTEXT@vsperinnemaisemat.net
+358405196545
Malminkatu 8 B 34, 20100 TURKU
Voluntary work
Biodiversity and Nature Conservation
This event is temporary, our Association basic work for this issue is permanent
One-time support of active volunteers of the Association with professional skills.
Southwest Finland
Media come along !
Significant effort
01/04/2010
6 months
UPDATE 3.2.2012:
The main effort of the commitment, “The Pasture-springjumping” information day, was arranged in early summer 2010 in Turku, Friskalanlahti seashore meadow. The Pasture-springjumping was carried out at the same time when the main part of the cattle of SW Finland meadow meat producers were released from their winter shelters to summer meadows and fields. The happening gathered many local journalists, including local radio and television news (YLE Lounais-Suomi).
During the event we guided journalists about critical situation of coastal meadows, ecosystem services maintained by the correct quality management of meadows and also various benefits of meadow meat.
This event enlightened the future possibility for optimal ecosystem service network of managed Baltic Sea coastline. The information day raised also consumer knowledge about the importance of grazing to the biodiversity, more closed nutrient cycle and to local entrepreneurship and business.
This commitment inspired us to take this happening as a part of annual activities of our association. Year 2011 we arranged this day with a same stencil as year 2010. The Pasture-springjumping will be organised also year 2012 on the first week of June.
The main effort of the commitment, “The Pasture-springjumping” information day, was arranged in early summer 2010 in Turku, Friskalanlahti seashore meadow. The Pasture-springjumping was carried out at the same time when the main part of the cattle of SW Finland meadow meat producers were released from their winter shelters to summer meadows and fields. The happening gathered many local journalists, including local radio and television news (YLE Lounais-Suomi).
During the event we guided journalists about critical situation of coastal meadows, ecosystem services maintained by the correct quality management of meadows and also various benefits of meadow meat.
This event enlightened the future possibility for optimal ecosystem service network of managed Baltic Sea coastline. The information day raised also consumer knowledge about the importance of grazing to the biodiversity, more closed nutrient cycle and to local entrepreneurship and business.
This commitment inspired us to take this happening as a part of annual activities of our association. Year 2011 we arranged this day with a same stencil as year 2010. The Pasture-springjumping will be organised also year 2012 on the first week of June.