Biodiversity enhancement in power line corridors: strategic maintenance and conservation efforts

Research underscores the importance of these corridors in green infrastructure as traditional grasslands decline. In 2017 and 2019, Vattenfall conducted a GIS-based analysis to identify areas with high biodiversity in its power line corridors.

The analysis identified 1,600 km of potentially valuable grassland out of a total of 8,600 km in middle and northern Sweden. Field studies and biodiversity assessments were then conducted to validate and prioritise these areas.

The field studies documented habitats and species, classifying 980 areas covering about 250 km. Vattenfall’s maintenance routine involves clearing power line corridors every eighth year and patrol paths every fourth year.

Insights from the area identification led to tailored maintenance plans for each area to enhance biodiversity, for example through the creation of glades, widening patrol paths and removing the cut material as well as special trimming and thinning out to prevent overgrowth.

The measures aim to favour, among others, bumblebees, bees, and butterflies. By 2025, 85% of the areas with high biodiversity had tailored maintenance, with a target of 100% by 2026.

During 2024 and 2025, follow‑up inventories were carried out in 20 areas of high biodiversity. The purpose was to assess whether the implemented management measures have had any effect on biodiversity. The results indicate a higher density of conservation‑value species, primarily within the patrol path, compared with 2018.