Klingavälsån-Krankesjön

The Site contains a stretch of the Klingavälsån River, the freshwater lakes Krankesjön and Sövdesjön, and part of Lake Vombsjön. It is composed of a variety of habitats including meandering streams, marshes, meadows, alder stands and willow thickets. The large areas of mown wet grasslands dominated by Carex sedges are rare in southern Sweden, as most wetlands of this type have been drained and cultivated. The alluvial forests also constitute a representative wetland type which was formerly predominant. The wide range of habitats supports animal species which are important for maintaining the biological diversity of the European Continental region, including the critically endangered European eel Anguilla anguilla and nationally threatened species including white stork Ciconia ciconia and black-necked grebe Podiceps nigricollis. The Site is an important area for breeding waterfowl, particularly waders and wetland passerines. It is also an important staging area for wintering and migrating birds, mainly birds of prey, ducks and geese. Human activities include recreational fishing and swimming, birdwatching and livestock grazing. Four bird observation platforms, three information points and a hide are open to the public. The main factors affecting the ecological character of the Site include pollution from agricultural and forestry effluents, water regulation measures such as drainage, water abstraction and canalization, and recreation and tourism. A restoration plan is being implemented, and 2,500 metres of the Klingavälsån River have been restored to a meandering water course. The second part of the restoration plan will include further remeandering of another 1,800 metres and the conversion of cultivated fields into semi-natural grasslands for grazing and hay-making.

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