Collaboration
Oliver Bechberger
(State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe, Germany)
Plants Of Koltur
Koltur has a rich diversity of plant species compared to the small island size, and the overall oceanic climate in the North Atlantic. There are registered 116 species of angiosperms, and the number increases every year, as the baseline studies progress. Another curious feature about the small island is the tall mountain “Uppi á Oyggj” which measures 478m. While there exists a zone of lowland vegetation, there are also areas with high-mountain vegetation on the top of the island. These circumstances enable for temperature- gradient studies of the vegetation, more specifically how mountain plant species adapt to a rapidly changing climate. Of the 116 registered plant species, there are three species considered rare and on the redlist for the Faroes. Most of the species are however regular species which therefore represent the Faroese flora quite well.
Botanical studies
There will be several vegetation studies conducted on Koltur during the next couple of years. One of the methods that has been implemented on the island is the Intercept method, to document plant species abundance, amongst others. 11 plots are well spread in a grid system over the whole island, where the speices are being registered together with invertebrate- and bird species. Botanists are also combing the island for new plant species to register. Furthermore, an herbarium reference collection of species on the island is being developed.
Nature reserve
and
ecological restoration
In the near future the Northern part of Koltur will become the first nature reserve in the Faroe Islands. It will be separated into different parts, where some parts will be available for the public, while others will be strictly for scientific research. On some areas the sheep number will decrease and on other areas the sheep will be removed completely, to monitor the effects of sheep grazing through time.
Area of restoration
There will be an area (pictured) where native plant species will be planted to assist recovery post sheep grazing. 10- 15 native plant species which already exist on the island, that are known to have existed or known to favour the environment on Koltur, will be planted for this cause. The replanting will be done with biosecurity measures to secure that no invasive species enter the island.
The landslides in Koltur
There are two landslides just above the church yard which eroded many years ago. They are slowly recovering, and the recovery will be monitored yearly into the unforeseeable future.
The gift for the queen
The 14th of January 2021, 50 years had passed since Her Majesty the queen Margrethe the II became regent in the Danish kingdom. The National Museum and the government of the Faroe Islands cooperated in presenting Her Majesty a gift that reflected the natural environment of the Faroe islands. For this occasion, 50 specimen of the species Salix arctica are to be planted together with other native plant species in the area of restoration.
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