The Site is Norway’s first large protected area, created in 1923. It comprises vast wet mires on the flat ground and drier mires on its slopes, divided by moraine ridges with mainly open upland birch forest and some shallow nutrient-rich pools. Around 170 bird species have been recorded at Fokstumyra, an impressive number for an upland wetland. The Site offers breeding habitat to large populations of ducks, waders and raptors. It is probably the most important breeding site in Norway for the northern harrier (Circus cyaneus); other breeders are the ruff (Philomachus pugnax), the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) and the common crane (Grus grus). The area is also important as a staging site in spring and early summer for birds waiting for breeding sites higher in the mountains to become free of snow and ice. The large mire areas are important water reservoirs, especially during droughts, and play a critical role in flood protection during periods of high precipitation and snowmelt. The Site is used for leisure activities such as walking, birdwatching and fishing. Additional visitor facilities need to be planned carefully so as not to further increase the disturbance of breeding birds.