Kattrup vildnis is a large area in western Zealand (Sjælland) of about 1000 ha. owned by a manor house. The area consists of large, recently abandoned agricultural fields, deciduous forests of especially Beech, with small remnants of intact and degraded rich fens harbouring rare orchids like Liparis loeselii and Epipactis palustris. Until recently the areas have been managed as agriculture and forestry but now the areas are to be converted into nature by the wishes of the land owners. The plan is to introduce large herbivores that will restore natural processes and disturbances (grazing, vectors for seeds etc.) thus promoting biodiversity. However, the introduction of herbivores has turned out to be a slow process because the need for permits e.g., currently it is not allowed to have grazing oxen or horses to roam in forests due to old forest laws protecting timber production but preventing wilder grazing regimes, and an introduction of pigs or wild boar is highly controversial due to precautionary efforts against African swine flu. Additionally public roads intersect the area owned by the manor. Thus, rewilding human landscapes is a tricky affair.

Research activities

In 2022 an intensive survey of vegetation was established to annually monitor the changes occurring when intensive agricultural and forestry activities are abandoned. A total of 251 plots are surveyed for vascular plants, mosses and lichens. A number of grazing exclosures will be established to monitor the effects of the introduced large herbivores.
Future scenarios of landscape changes at Kattrup are visualized with the help of virtual reality to present to local stakeholders the transformation that is possible through rewilding of the landscapes.
Total species list from our plots.