In the Ribiškii landscape reserve, the "living lawnmowers" project initiated by the Pavilnii and Verkii Regional Parks Directorate started. Until September 18, 10 sheep and 3 goats will graze in the fenced area. These "lawn mowers" perform a very important job both for nature and for residents.
In natural terms, animals selectively gnaw certain grasses, increasing the mosaicity of the meadow and at the same time the biodiversity. It helps restore and maintain natural or semi-natural grassland communities that are rare and protected. Why are livestock superior to tractors? First, the latter must adapt to the expected mowing term, which is often in the second half of summer, when the mowing machinery is extremely busy. Second, the tractor cuts all the plants at the same level and at the same time when mowing, unlike sheep and goats.
Historically, Ribiškės was a village near Vilnius for a long time and there was natural, traditional vegetation and meadow mowing and grazing. Animal herding was a common activity in the rural area at that time. As the city expanded, the countryside fell into disrepair, and without grazing, the meadows became overgrown with alien bushes, and many of the plants and animals associated with meadow habitats perished. In order to restore these meadows, bushes have been removed from the area and it is already the second season when animals are grazed.
