Swamps and riverbanks
Swamp clearance
Lundarsøyla is a brackish water lagoon with underwater meadows, salt marshes, pasture and woodland swamp. The swamp is dominated by alder trees. In the winter of 2021 trees and branches were used to block some old drainage ditches in order to raise groundwater levels. The site was also cleared of invasive tree species such as sycamore and sitka spruce. The restoration was aimed at conserving the swampland ecosystem and increasing biological diversity.
More water in the swamp after conservation action./Girdling of sycamore.
Photo: Kjell-Ove Hauge/Anne Elisabeth Carlsen, NATUReco
Felling and clearing swampland sycamores.
Photo: Anne Elisabeth Carlsen, NATUReco.
Combating Himalayan balsam
Himalayan balsam is a large and beautiful plant, but unwelcome in Norway. It spreads very rapidly and in a short time is able to outcompete all local, native plants and damage biological diversity. Dense populations can also cause erosion along riverbanks. In recent years, Himalayan balsam has been mechanically removed from the Håelva river, from Taksdalvatn Lake to Håtangen.
Himalayan balsam being cleared along the Håelva river./Himalayan balsam is both beautiful and black-listed.
Photo: Anne Elisabeth Carlsen, NATUReco
The shallow Foren stream in Årdal has been restored./1,300 alder saplings have been planted.
Photo: Trond Erik Børresen/Knut Ståle Eriksen
Felling, clearance and planting
The Årdal river in Hjelmeland has lost more than half of its water flow due to hydropower development. However, it is still one of the best salmon rivers in Rogaland. It has many small tributaries that are important for the recruitment of salmon and sea trout. In recent years, one of the tributaries, Foren at Valheim, has been restored. Firs have been felled and replaced with 1,300 alder saplings. Fine sediment has been removed and gravel deposited in the stream bed. Biological diversity has been significantly improved.
Felling of firs./Spawning gravels for salmon and sea trout.
Photo: Trond Erik Børresen