Ryningen is one of the largest, claimed wetlands in southeastern Sweden. The approximately 300 hectare area is located on the border between Hultsfred and Högsby municipality where many bird species can be seen. The area is easily accessible with two bird towers, a platform, parking lots, trails and information signs.
The area was once made up of vast wetlands where Emån and other watercourses occasionally floated over the natural vegetation, where in summer winter fodder was harvested for the animals. By lowering the lake Ryningen in 1887, both arable land and natural mowers were created. Recent embankments have created more continuous arable land in the outer areas.
The modern wetland complex along the Emån is dominated by approx. 200 hectares of wet meadows consisting of blue whiting and cataracts, which are still claimed with the help of bait and to some extent mowing. The areas in the southeast are the most overgrown where willow shrubbery and even reedbeds spread. The years Emån floods the former wetlands give a look back at how the whole landscape was once characterized by Emån.
The woodlands that surround the open lands at Emån are of deciduous forest and mixed forest. Aspen-dominated forests often mixed with oak are common in the area and especially old oaks occur at Ryningsnäs in the north.
In addition to this being a unique bird sanctuary, there are also a large number of rare insects in the area.
Ryningen is classified as a Natura 2000 area and was restored during the 1990s when tree curtains and shrubs were removed. Furthermore, star meadows and grazing animals were rotor-milled and released on pasture, which made the area more attractive for bird life.
