The importance of grazing, haymaking and local heritage on the Vega Archipelago of Norway

The Vega Archipelago, Norway's first cultural landscape inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004, faces significant ecological and cultural challenges due to the abandonment of traditional practices since the 1950s. Uncontrolled plant growth, such as Sikta spruce and meadowsweet, has led to a decline in local biodiversity, while cultural heritage, including the eider duck tradition, is also at risk. However, recent efforts by Vega's inhabitants have shown promise through an integrated program that combines the restoration of old buildings with traditional practices like grazing (beiting) and haymaking (slått). This approach aims to mitigate ecological degradation and preserve cultural heritage, offering a potential model for sustainable management in other cultural landscapes.

(Ed.). (2016). The importance of grazing, haymaking and local heritage on the Vega Archipelago of Norway. Island Landscapes, 139–144. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315590110-23