Semi-natural meadows and grazed woodlands are biodiversity-rich, unique habitats co-created by people and nature through grazing and mowing for livestock. In Finland, these habitats are called traditional rural biotopes. Other features of cultural landscapes include the built heritage, for example traditional buildings, fences and stone walls. Additionally, cultural landscapes sometimes contain archeological cultural heritage such as burial grounds.

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Examples of traditional rural biotopes are heaths, semi-natural and natural meadows, grazed woodlands and forests and other types of untilled permanent pastureland. Their rich flora diversity creates conditions for many other species, for example fungi, butterflies and beetles, as well as birds and other wildlife. Because these habitats support a high level of biodiversity, they are considered high nature value farmlands .

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Cultural landscapes are dependent on management practices such as grazing and mowing, as well as maintenance of the built heritage. Meadows once made up the majority of Finnish agricultural land, but have dramatically decreased due to changes in agricultural practices. Finland has less than 1% of managed meadow area compared to a century ago.