Östen

Lake Östen
Geese at lake Östen
Geese at lake Östen
Walking path to bird watching tower

Östen

  • Country: 
    Sweden
  • Site number: 
    433
  • Area: 
    1,486 ha
  • Designation date: 
    12-06-1989
  • Coordinates: 
    58°33'N 13°55'E
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

Lake Östen is a shallow, eutrophic freshwater lake supporting a rich submerged flora and fringed by reedbeds giving way to grassland.The lake level is subject to considerable natural fluctuations with extensive spring flooding, which helps to free the lake from ice early in the year and creates a relatively large area of wet meadows. Östen has been extended by nearly 50%, to fit the boundaries of protected areas and to include dry, mostly arable land important for staging birds. The Site is an important staging area for birds, notably the globally threatened lesser white fronted goose Anser erythropus, the whooper swan Cygnus cygnus and the bean goose Anser fabalis which occur in internationally significant numbers. About half of the wet meadows are grazed by cattle, and provide important breeding grounds for ducks and waders. In addition to cattle grazing, human activities include recreational fishing and tourism. The area is also an important archaeological site, with grave fields from the Stone Age situated in Askeberga. Reed vegetation such as phragmites and scirpus species has decreased during recent years, possibly as a result of the increasing number of grazing geese and in particular the greylag goose Anser anser. A project was carried out during 2014 and 2015 to support the management of the wet meadows around Lake Östen. An association runs an information centre in Logården which hosts a small exhibition and cafeteria, and arranges guided tours around the lake.

Administrative region: 
Västra Götaland

  • National legal designation: 
    • nature conservation area - Östen
    • nature reserve - Logården
    • site of national importance for nature conservation - Östen
  • Regional (international) legal designations: 
    • EU Natura 2000
  • Last publication date: 
    31-03-2017

Downloads

Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)

Additional reports and documents