Ambassador profile

Organisation profile

Nowadays Tåkern is regarded as the foremost bird lake in Northern Europe. Its surroundings are also endowed with a beautiful flora rich in orchids. There are four visitors' areas round the lake with paths and bird watching towers. The lake was formed when it became cut off from the salty Yoldia Sea about 10,000 years ago. During the nineteenth century the water levels of many lakes were lowered to gain more agricultural land and the level of Lake Tåkern was dropped by 1.7 m in 1842-4. Since the average depth became 0.8 m the reed beds began to spread out, the water meadows became well established and the lake began to attract birds. Consequently its epoch as a bird lake is no more than 150 years old. Now the whole reserve comprises 5400 hectares, mostly in private ownership with some parts owned by the State. Lake Tåkern is one of the most important nesting and feeding places for many species of birds in Northern Europe. During recent years a total of 270 species of birds have been seen at the lake and over a hundred nest here: e.g., Black Tern, Bittern, Marsh Harrier and Great Reed Warbler. At an equivalent of about 2,400 football pitches, the total area of the reed beds by the lake is the largest in Europe. The water meadows at Lake Tåkern have been created by years of grazing and haymaking and extend to a total of 450 hectares. As these meadows are rich in lime they have a very diversified flora. Birdseye Primroses and orchids such as the Fly, Early Marsh and Musk Orchids flourish here. In order to preserve their biodiversity and to prevent overgrowth, it important to keep the meadows constantly grazed and mowed. Great efforts are necessary to maintain the man-made environment at Tåkern. The management is financed by Tåkernfonden WWF.

Several restorations with renewal of meadows and grazing with cattle

Activities and products for the communication of Natura 2000

 

✓Guided visits

 

✓At least once per week

 

✓No

 

✓No

 

SEPA – Swedish Environmental Protection Agency have a handbook of Natura 2000 (only in Swedish) with the title “Natura 2000 I Sverige – hanbok med allmäna råd” ISBN 91-620-0131-0 ISSN 1650-2361. It is avalaible on www.naturvardsverket.se/bokhandel.

A new management-plan of the site is on production and will be communicated with stakeholders and farmers around the site.

 

✓At central office

 

✓Yes

 

Tåkernfonden WWF – a foundation that support management action of the site.The foundation gives money every year.

www5.e.lst.se/wwf/index.html

• Yearly haycutting/meadow-triming
• Grazing

Same targets with the management of the nature reserve as the Natura 2000-site (same
boundaries).

Keeping the meadows grazed and cut to serve as good habitats for birds (nesting as well as migrating) and plants connected to lime-rich meadows, orchids etc.

Without the stakeholders there is no grazing and most of the cutting with machines had to be ordered from other entrepreneurs.

Restoration of meadows and reed beds with machines

More nesting/migrating birds and a lot of plants increasing in numbers on the meadows.

About Euros 25,000 per year

Approx. Euro 2,5 million for management and approx. Euro 3-4 million for conservation.

LIFE-ROSORIS including Tåkern!
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF including INTERREG) BIRD