Background Poor maintenance and a complete lack of management have led to a decline in the conservation status of Fennoscandian wooded pastures and meadow habitats (listed in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive). The same problem is occurring in other rare deciduous forest habitats, such as oak and natural old broad-leaved forests. Some sites have been completely abandoned and, as a result, the landscape has changed and habitats have become fragmented. This has led to declines and even extinctions of local deadwood vertebrates that depend upon these habitats to survive. The species most affected are the hermit beetle (Osmoderma eremita), great capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo), stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) and the pseudoscorpion, Anthrenochernes stellae. Objectives The LIFE BTG project will focus on 30 Natura 2000 network sites in south-eastern Sweden. It aims to reconnect the fragmented landscape of Fennoscandian wooded pastures, thus reducing the extinction rates of the local beetles that depend upon the wood for a habitat. The specific project objectives are as follows: Initiate the process of recovery to a favourable conservation status of 1 405 ha of Fennoscandian wooded pastures and meadow habitats; Initiate the process of recovery to a favourable conservation status of the Annex II-listed hermit beetle, great capricorn beetle, stag beetle and the pseudoscorpion A. stellae in 30 Natura 2000 network sites; Initiate the creation of decaying wood habitats within these sites; and Increase and update the knowledge about the management of the targeted habitats and species among stakeholders, site managers and scientists by the dissemination of project experiences and results, in order to ensure transferability and replicability. The following achievements will be considered as indicators of a successful recovery process: Clearing of overgrowth has resulted in reduced canopy cover benefiting the targeted habitats; Clearing of overgrowth and monitoring of ancient trees indicate an increased number of hollow trees that are sun exposed and thus indicate improved living conditions and potential for colonisation by tree-living insects, including by the target species; Planting of trees and bushes has been successful, i.e. by project end >80% survival of planted small trees and >90% survival of large oak trees, indicating that a process to bridge gaps between habitats has been initiated; The number of trees inhabited by the hermit beetle and A. stellae has increased, as indicated by monitoring using mould boxes; Wood-living beetles have begun colonising log piles; ‘Veteranisation’ (deliberate ageing) of trees has resulted in colonisation by the hermit beetle, A. stellae and other associated species, as indicated by monitoring using eclector traps; and The great capricorn beetle is re-established at two project sites, as indicated by monitoring exit holes of the species. To encourage transferability and replicability, local stakeholders, conservation experts and policymakers will be involved at different stages of the project implementation.