Monday 12/12: Ullersjöbäckens old-growth forest in Strömsund municipality...
...is located east of Stor-Blåsjön in the eastern part of Frostviken about 5 km south of Ankarede. The forest of 264 ha is the most recent of the Natural Heritage's acquisitions made in 2022. According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency report Better late than never - indicators for the forest landscape's green infrastructure the whole of Frostviken is an area that consists of hotspots for high nature values, and at the same time largely lacks formal protection.
The property was acquired by tender, which was accepted by the seller without an auction. Strong fundraising in 2020, 2021 and especially in the spring of 2022 was able to secure the financing of the purchase in parallel with two other property acquisitions on Gräsö, which we will tell you about tomorrow. We are extremely grateful for all the gifts, large and small, that have made it possible for Naturarvet to be the protector of the forest for all time.
The entire area lacks knowledge about species and natural values, but a forest survey carried out as a basis for a forest management plan states that several stands are 180-200 years old and concludes that the entire property is worthy of protection (which is extremely rare in a forest management plan).
During a short visit at the end of July, which had to be canceled due to covid19 after only one day in the field, some red-listed species indicating high nature value could be noted. The fish-rich lakes and streams in the area offer rich access to food for red-listed birds and mammals. Humid stream environments are highly interesting for threatened lichens and silted marshes are the home of orchids, among other things.
Several of the neighboring properties to the Natural Heritage property have in recent years been acquired by various private owners, who immediately after the acquisition have applied to harvest large parts of their properties. Thus, the Natural Heritage's permanently protected property also constitutes an important link in a green infrastructure between larger protected areas in the mountain areas to the north and a bit west of Stor-Blåsjön.
There is scope to protect further large areas of high nature value hotspots, as Naturarvet wants. You can help by earmarking gifts to the forest with its many streams, of which Ullersjöbäcken is the largest with its swirling, lively rapids and waterfalls.
Read more about Ullersjöbäckens old-growth forest here.
Take a look at the collection map here.