Feral sheep in coastal heaths - developing sustainable agriculture in vulnerable cultural landscapes

Ane Gro Siri Skjelfjord

The main objective of this project is to provide the ecological, sheep health and welfare, and economic knowledge necessary to develop feral sheep farming in coastal heathlands into a sustainable local industry for the 21st century

Norwegian Research Council project led by Bioforsk Midt-Norge
Project leaders at Bioforsk: Ann Norderhaug and Samson Øpstad
Project leader at IHA: Torstein Garmo

Year-round sheep farming on the Norwegian west coast has a history dating back several millennia. This important part of our cultural heritage has resulted in a distinct breed of animals, the feral sheep, that has evolved in close interaction with the creation and maintenance of a unique semi-natural landscape: the coastal heathlands. This open landscape that borders the Atlantic coast from Lofoten to Portugal, is a result of human adaptation to a mild winter climate: through winter grazing and heath burning man has created a cultural landscape that is unique to Europe.

As a result of land-use change and abandonment the coastal heath ecosystem is now classified as "greatly endangered" under the EC Habitats Directive. Norway is responsible for the management of Europe's northern heaths, but we still do not have an official protection plan. Conservation of the heathlands depends on active management. Renewed interest in local foods by producers and consumers, in combination with new legal end economic tools for conserving semi-natural habitats is now creating a positive environment for conservation of this unique ecosystem. At the same time, there is an increasing awareness of animal welfare issues in our modern society. Animal conditions which were taken as normal and satisfactory some decades ago may not necessarily be acceptable as measured by today's welfare standards.

In this project, experts on landscape ecology, animal health, and agricultural economy join forces to develop feral sheep farming into an industry for the 21st century. The basic idea is that a combination of local industry and nature conservation will be the most efficient and cost-effective tool for the future national management of the coastal heathlands. Only through targeted and knowledge-based modern agro-ecological practices, product development and marketing, and support policies can this threatened ecosystem, and the cultural heritage that it represents, be conserved for the future.

Updated: 20.01.09
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