Biodiversity is declining faster now than ever before in human history. One of the reasons is agriculture, which is now spreading over a third of the earth’s land surface – something that is also noticeable in Sweden, as old pastures grow back and thus threaten many species.
But at Björnäs farm in Östhammar, they are in the process of reversing the trend. In the winter, cows and calves stand here as usual in the barn – but in the summer they get to act as conservationists when they graze in overgrown pastures on the Uppland coast.
– They prevent vegetation from becoming too high and ensure that the light reaches down. This means that flowers and other species benefit, both plants and animal species, says farmer Emilia Westerlund.
“Looks like it did 100 years ago”
In the summer, over 200 cows and calves roam freely in 14 paddocks. A foundation pays for the pasture and the county board provides nature conservation grants.
– They have grazed now for two seasons and really got rid of all the sly and all the bushes that have come up. So now it’s nice again and looks like it did 100 years ago, says Alexander Westerlund, who runs Björnäs farm together with Emilia.
The grazed paddocks are proof that it is possible to bring back species that have disappeared.
– We get insects that are otherwise extinct. For example, the mnemonic butterfly that lives on nun’s grass that emerges when we graze. So it can be found in two places in Sweden, here and on Gotland, which feels great, says Alexander.