Summer

The dry and mesic meadows of Ruissalo

Dry and mesic meadows are open habitats created as a result of grazing and haymaking. They are called traditional rural biotopes, which have, over centuries of agricultural use, developed rich and distinct flora and fauna that differ significantly from those found in surrounding environments. However, agricultural and social changes have driven traditional rural biotopes to the brink of extinction, reducing their numbers to a fraction of what they used to be. As a result, the species found in these habitats have also become threatened; of all the threatened species in Finland, a quarter live in traditional rural biotopes, particularly dry meadows. Finland’s remaining meadows are maintained by clearing, mowing and grazing.