Lake Vänern Archipelago and Mount Kinnekulle
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BIOSPHERE RESERVE Lake Vänern Archipelago and Mount Kinnekulle NOMINATION FORM The nomination form, documents and appendices are also available on the website: www.vanerkulle.se Authors: Johanna MacTaggart, Birgitta Gärdefors, Johanna Olsson, Clas-Göran Crommert, Håkan Magnusson, Bo Magnusson, Lars-Göran Nilsson. In addition, a large number of people have contributed with documentation and other materials. Translation and proofreading: Maria Morris Translations Cover photo: Johanna Olsson Maps: The Biosphere Candidate Office has together with the municipalities produced all the maps included in the nomination form and appendices. Background maps from Lantmäteriet. Working party for the Nomination Form: Johanna MacTaggart, coordinator Birgitta Gärdefors Biosphere Candidate Office Municipal ecologist Götene municipality Götene municipality Johanna Olsson Clas-Göran Crommert Municipal ecologist Development strategist Lidköping municipality Mariestad municipality Mariestad, December 1st 2008 UNESCO - Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme - Biosphere reserve nomination form – February 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I: SUMMARY 1. PROPOSED NAME OF THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE 3 2. COUNTRY 3 3. FULFILLMENT OF THE THREE FUNCTIONS OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES 3-7 3.1. “Conservation – contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation” 3 3.2. ”Development – foster economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecol. sustainable” 4 3.3. ”Logistic support – support for demonstration projects, environmental education and training, research and monitoring related to local, regional, national and global issues of conservation and sustainable development” 5 4. CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION AS A BIOSPHERE RESERVE 7-13 4.1. ”Encompass a mosaic of ecological systems representative of major biogeographic regions, including a gradation of human intervention” 7 4.2. ”Be of significance for biological diversity conservation” 7 4.3. “Provide an opportunity to explore and demonstrate approaches to sustainable development on a regional scale“ 8 4.4. ”Have an appropriate size to serve the three functions of biosphere reserves” 9 4.5 . Through appropriate zonation 9 4.6. ”Organisational arrangements should be provided for the involvement and participation of a suitable range of inter alia public authorities, local communities and private interests in the design and the carrying out of the functions…” 11 4.7. Mechanisms of implementation 11 5. ENDORSEMENTS 14-17 PART II: DESCRIPTION 6. LOCATION (latitude and longitude) 18 7. SIZE 19-20 7.1 Size of terrestrial Core Area(s) 19 7.2 Size of terrestrial buffer Zone(s) 19 7.3 Approx. Size of terrestrial Transition Area(s) 19 7.4 Brief rational of this zonation (in terms of the various roles of biosphere reserves) 19 8. BIOGEOGRAPHICAL REGION 20 9. LAND USE HISTORY 20-28 10. HUMAN POPULATION OF PROPOSED BIOSPHERE RESERVE 28-33 10.1. Core Area(s) 28 10.2. Buffer Zone(s) 28 10.3. Transition Area(s) 28 10.4. Brief description of local communities living within or near the proposed Biosphere Reserve 28 10.5. Name(s) of nearest major town(s) 29 10.6. Cultural significance 29 11. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS 33-36 11.1. Site characteristics and topography of area 33 11.2. Climate 34 11.3. Geology, geomorphology, soils 34 12. BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS 36-66 12.1 . First type of habitat/land cover: Lakes and watercourses 37 12.2 . Second type of habitat/land cover: Wetlands 41 12.3 . Third type of habitat/land cover: Coastal ecosystems 44 12.4 . Fourth type of habitat/land cover: Forests 47 12.5 . Fifth type of habitat/land cover: Arable land 55 12.6 . Sixth type of habitat/land cover: Built-up areas 62 UNESCO - Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme - Biosphere reserve nomination form - February 2004 13. CONSERVATION FUNCTION 66-76 13.1. Contribution to the conservation of landscape and ecosystem biodiversity 67 13.2. Conservation of species biodiversity 72 13.3. Conservation of genetic biodiversity 74 14. DEVELOPMENT FUNCTION 75-89 14.1. Potential for fostering economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable 75 14.2. If tourism is a major activity 84 14.3. Benefits of economic activities to local people 88 15. LOGISTIC SUPPORT FUNCTION 89-109 15.1. Research and monitoring 89 15.2. Environmental education and public awareness 105 15.3 Specialist training 107 15.4. Potential to contribute to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves 108 16. USES AND ACTIVITIES 110-113 16.1. Core Area 110 16.2. Buffer zone 110 16.3. Transition Area 112 17. INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS 113-127 17.1. State, province, region or other administrative units 113 17.2. Units of the proposed Biosphere Reserve 114 17.3. Protection Regime of the core area(s) and, if appropriate of the buffer zone(s) 114 17.4. Land use regulations or agreements applicable to the transition area (if appropriate) 116 17.5. Land tenure of each zone 117 17.6. Management plan or policy and mechanisms for implementation 118 17.7. Financial source(s) and yearly budget 125 17.8. Authority in charge 126 18. SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS 127 19. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS 127-128 20. ADDRESSER 129-130 APPENDICES Appendix 1. General location map 131 Appendix 2. Biosphere reserve zonation map 132 Appendix 3. Land cover maps 133-135 Appendix 4a. List of legal documents 136-140 Appendix 4b. Translation of list of legal documents 141-145 Appendix 5a. List of management plans 146-147 Appendix 5b. Translation of list of management plans 148-149 Appendix 6. Species list 150-156 Appendix 7. List of main bibliographic references 157-166 Appendix 8. Photographs 167-174 Appendix 9. Letters of recommendation 175-194 UNESCO - Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme - Biosphere reserve nomination form – February 2004 3 PART I : SUMMARY 1. PROPOSED NAME OF THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE: [It is advisable to use a locally accepted geographic, descriptive or symbolic name which allows people to identify themselves with the site concerned (e.g. Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, Bookmark Biosphere Reserve). Except in unusual circumstances, Biosphere Reserves should not be named after existing national parks or similar administrative areas] Lake Vänern Archipelago and Mount Kinnekulle Biosphere Reserve 2. COUNTRY: Sweden 3. FULFILLMENT OF THE THREE FUNCTIONS OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES (Article 3 of the Statutory Framework presents the three functions of conservation, development and logistic support. Explain in general terms how the area fulfills these functions.) The Lake Vänern Archipelago and Mount Kinnekulle area meets the criteria for ”conservation, development and logistic support” that apply to biosphere reserves around the world under the Statutory Framework. Within the area, numerous activities and programmes are undertaken that all contribute to the fulfillment of these guidelines. 3.1 "Conservation - contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation" (Stress the importance of the site for conservation at the regional or global scales) Lake Vänern Archipelago and Mount Kinnekulle include large areas of high landscape value, from a biological, ecological and cultural history perspective. Large parts of these areas are protected under national legislation with the aim to conserve the values for future generations. Protection also helps to safeguard biological diversity and to ensure that traditional knowledge is not forgotten, but passed on. The biological values are dependent on traditional land management practices, such as haymaking and pollarding. Management of the protected land areas is set out in management plans, supported by landowners and the County Administrative Board, which guarantee a continued customary use of the land. There are also areas that are of national interest for outdoor recreation, contributing to the well-being and health of the public. The 278,600 ha area has a highly varied flora and fauna. On Mount Kinnekulle alone, 15 species that are included in the Birds and Habitats Directives occur, as well as a few hundred red-listed and nationally threatened species. The entire area is home to at least 171 species in the vulnerable (VU), endangered (EN) or critically endangered (CR) categories on the national Red List. There are 50 EU-listed species, of which 33 are listed in the Birds Directive and 20 species occur on the global IUCN Red List. The proposed biosphere reserve includes several landscape types. The archipelagos around Kållandsö, Brommö, Kalvö and Djurö, include a mixture of bare islets and large islands. A number of habitat types included in the ecological EU network Natura 2000 are found here, e.g. western taiga (9010) and hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine level (6430). Threatened bird species in the area include osprey (Pandion haliaetus), nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) UNESCO - Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme - Biosphere reserve nomination form - February 2004 4 and black-throated diver (Gavia arctica), to mention a few. Lake Vänern Archipelago and Mount Kinnekulle also include areas of high geological value, e.g. Mount Lugnåsberget with sedimentary rock, Brommö archipelago with immense shifting sand dunes, and a number of end moraines and eskers. Mount Kinnekulle; a plateau with limestone pavement (alvar) habitats, traditional pastoral landscape and old ‘church villages’ is unique in Sweden. The area is rich in cultural treasures, e.g. the Minnesfjäll millstone quarry at Lugnås, where you can see how millstones were quarried dating