Biodiversity in Elonkierto
Elonkierto highlights in its area, in concrete terms, the gradual variation starting from very abundant diversity into a lower level of diversity. At each of these levels, economic, management, and nature conservation aspects have different priorities.
Biodiversity refers to the whole spectrum of life – genetic variation within species, the abundance of species, and the diversity of their habitats. Several species of plants, insects, birds, and mammals are directly dependent on habitats shaped by agriculture. The decline in grazing, the increase of unmanaged fields, the reduction of uncultivated field edges, and the decline in the management of traditional habitats have reduced the diversity that was previously abundant in these environments.
IMPORTANCE OF TRADITIONAL BIOTOPE MANAGEMENT FOR BIODIVERSITY IN ELONKIERTO
Traditional biotopes, in other words, meadows, pasturages, and forest pastures, are species-rich habitats shaped by traditional livestock farming that have produced the winter fodder needed by cattle or served as pasture. As agriculture has intensified, the area of most habitats in traditional biotopes has decreased by more than 90% over the past 50 years. They are all endangered today.
In Elonkierto there are traditional biotope areas in eight different parcels, which are managed by grazing, thinning trees, mowing, and raking away nutrient-rich vegetation. Species inventories of traditional biotopes have also been conducted. Abandoning traditional management methods would mean the depletion of species, substantial changes in habitats, and gradual disappearance through overgrowth.
FOREST PASTURES AND THE DRY MEADOW NEAR THE BARN
Habitats of forest pasture in Elonkierto are divided into three patterns: a steep-walled rock area in the middle, a sunny southern slope with meadow vegetation and multi-species deciduous trees descending from it, and a grove like vegetation type, on the north side of the cliff, with six small ponds.
Forest pasture oaks (hardwoods) and other large deciduous trees such as aspens and stripes form a representative tree structure/tree species ratio for diverse biota. Old spruce trees, both standing and left on the ground, provide shelter, food, and nesting holes for colony birds. A quarter of our forest species depend on decaying wood, a total of about 5,000 species. Species dependent on decaying wood are found in almost all groups of organisms.
In the species inventory, 102 species were recorded from forest pastures during one growing season (large animals are not included in this figure). Very few minus species or alien species listed in the inventory instructions for traditional biotopes were found in the area. It is also significant that no species predominates, but there is balanced competition between different plants in the region.
PASTURAGES AND DAMP MEADOWS
In the pasture areas along the banks of the river Loimijoki, efforts have been made to raise the level of biodiversity by sowing and planting. The area is, however, fertile enough for aggressive species to take over. In these areas, the interest in preserving indigenous breeds, in landscape management, should necessarily predominate.
Riparian areas serve as important habitats for many invertebrates and insects, as well as waterfowl, waders, and insectivores.
Manure, and livestock manure is vital for a few soil surface crawling and running insect species. Manure-dependent species are found in the families of beetles, flies, gnats, and hymenopteran insects. They recycle manure nutrients in nature and are themselves food for other species. Manure piles are also used by many butterflies, such as bluewings, knight butterflies, and stealth butterflies. These are also butterfly species found in Elonkierto.
PERENNIAL GRASSLANDS
Perennial grasslands and wintertime vegetation cover of fields improve soil structure, increase organic matter, and reduce the nutrient load on waterways. Organic matter increases both the productivity and carbon sequestration of fields. Good soil condition is a prerequisite for cost-effective food production that uses arable land sparingly, because of which, land can also be freed up for biodiversity.
Grazing secures the livelihoods biodiversity outside forests. Meadow plants need the light and space provided by grazing to compete with larger species. Insects depend on meadow plants during their life cycle, and insect eating bird species again, depend on insects.
The most valuable habitats for birds are green fallows, pastures, meadows, and grasslands. In Elonkierto, for example, swallows, classified as endangered, nest regularly. Similarly, in the summer, four or five wagtails’ nest, whose habitat also requires a bright square and areas that stay constantly free of vegetation.
ARABLE FARMING
Crop rotation is the basis for sustainable cultivation of arable land. Crop rotation of arable crops is conducted, for example, in the Elonkierto dining table sample block, and the historical closed yard area. The aim of both is to support the good growing condition of the area, reduce the environmental load of agriculture, and increase biodiversity.
Arable varieties, mixed crops, and catch crops have been used to increase diversity in Elonkierto. The principle of diversity also works below ground level. By diversifying crops, a diverse root system of various plants is formed underground, which contributes to the microbiological activity of the soil. Soil in good condition increases the resistance of the field to change, in other words, the vegetation can survive well in varying conditions, such as rain and drought.
Mixed crops provide diverse nutrition for both pollinators and soil organisms. They add carbon to the soil and, being more secure in cultivation, help adapt to climate change. Disease and pest pressure as well as the need for weed control are reduced in mixed crops. For example, the cultivation of leguminous crops together with cereals improves self-sufficiency in food production, as domestic legumes can replace protein feed imports and the need for bought fertilizers can be replaced by the cultivation of nitrogen-fixing legumes.
VEGETABLE GARDEN
Partnership plant thinking applied in a versatile way, is perfect for designing a home vegetable garden. It makes it possible to shape the growing conditions of different plant species and to use the land area efficiently. The use of companion plants helps in weed, disease, pest control, and balanced nutrient use of the soil. In addition, it makes the vegetable garden a cozy environment.
In Elonkierto, plant protection related to plant companion and repellent plants has been assessed with varying degrees of success. Companion plants can be used to manipulate insects’ search for plants, enhance plant shunning, or make it more difficult to find food plants. In this, plant structure, colours, or growth patterns are important. In addition, various farming practices, wintertime plant cover, and green fertilisation have been used to increase diversity in Elonkierto.
HERB PERENNIALS
Highlighting old varieties of Elonkierto, herb perennial bed attracts pollinating insects due to the pollen of herbs and the nutritional value of nectar. For pollinators, it is important to have a flower continuum that lasts throughout the growing season, which can also exemplarily be seen in Elonkierto herb garden.
PRESERVING GENETIC DIVERSITY WITH LANDRACES
In Finland, there are only very few landrace varieties of cereals left in cultivation. However, landrace seeds were collected in the ’70s and ’80s and stored exceptionally much in the Nordic gene bank NordGen, where small quantities can also be ordered by private individuals. Landraces offer opportunities to respond to food security challenges posed by shrinking biodiversity and extreme conditions brought about by climate change. Genetic variation is needed for breeding varieties resistant to heat, drought, and various plant diseases and pests.
As future needs are unpredictable, as diverse genetic material as possible must be supported. By cultivating landraces, centuries of development and adaptation to the conditions of the region continue. In Elonkierto, about 24 different landrace varieties are cultivated in sample plots of 10–20 m2.
The most natural way of preserving genetic resources is to cultivate plants in their native environment. Hop posts, growing up to five metres high at the entrance gate of the Elonkierto, and rhubarb near the vegetable garden are part of the vegetative genetic resource collection kept by Luke.