Monday, July 7, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

After 18 years, the forest has become a nature reserve

Published 2 July 2023
– By Editorial Staff
Sebastian Kirppu gathered a group of friends for the unofficial opening of the nature reserve.
2 minute read

Forest biologist Sebastian Kirppu has been fighting for the last 18 years to have the Havsvalladalen valley in Värmland protected. This year, together with friends, he held an unofficial inauguration of the nature reserve and now the forest biologist hopes that it can become part of Värmland’s first national park.

Havsvalladalen is part of Värmland’s largest contiguous natural forest area, where the forest is largely dominated by fire-prone pine forest where the pines can sometimes be up to 300 years old. The forest is also rich in leafy trees where there occur well-developed deciduous fires. The Havsvallan watercourse runs along the valley and large parts of the valley contain many boulders. The richness of the boulders makes the forest rare in terms of geological value, as it is rare to find such extensive boulder seas so far south.

Large parts of the forest have been untouched for almost 150 years. Because of this, there are also many natural forest structures such as dead wood in various stages of decomposition, old and large trees and the area also has a high level of biodiversity.

For the past 18 years, forest biologist Sebastian Kirppu has been fighting for the protection of the Havsvalle Valley, and in June he finally held an unofficial inauguration of the new nature reserve. Initially, there was little interest from the state, but the more attention was paid to the diversity of the forest, the stronger the interest became.

The hallmark of Havsvalladalen is the spruce-pine forest, a dense forest created by forest fires, and the giant boulders, Kirppu told Natursidan.

It was in 2020 that Kirppu received the news that they were choosing to protect the area, but the inauguration was canceled due to the corona crisis. It is with tears in his eyes that Kirppu cuts the symbolic ribbon for the inauguration of the nature reserve and toasts his group of friends who have come to the forest with him.

Kirppu now hopes that the nature reserve can become Värmland’s first national park together with the nearby nature reserves Havsjöskogen, Brånberget and Torrknölen. This would cover an area of about 3600 hectares.

Here we have all the elements of a natural forest, he says. There are stumps with carbon from forest fires that raged here in the forest more than a hundred years ago, there is self thinning where some tree individuals die in competition with others for light and nutrients, and there is a variation in the thickness of the different trees. A natural forest will never be homogeneous, it is always heterogeneous with a diversity of species.

 

Havsvalladalen is located in Torsby municipality in Värmland, about 11 kilometers north of Båtstad.

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The forest lives when trees die

Biodiversity

Published 4 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Leaving a variety of dead trees in forests is vital for many species' survival.
2 minute read

When old trees die, life begins for many other species, according to a new dissertation. Numerous threatened species need dead wood to survive, along with a varied landscape.

Dead wood, meaning dead trees and branches in nature, is vital for about a quarter of Sweden’s beetle species. Many fungal species also depend on dead wood for survival.

Together with microorganisms and fungi, beetles contribute to the decomposition of tree remains, which provides nutrients to the soil and creates habitats for other insects that, in turn, become food for birds and other animals.

However, many of these fungal and beetle species are threatened today, partly because dead wood has become scarce – especially in managed forests. Paulina Bergmark from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has examined in her dissertation whether these species are better preserved in landscapes where nature conservation is combined with forestry, often called eco-parks. The state-owned Swedish forestry company Sveaskog established the first eco-parks about 20 years ago, with the aim of supporting species negatively affected by traditional forestry. Today, there are 37 such forests in total.

In five of these eco-parks, Bergmark studied beetle and fungal species living in high-cut stumps. She then compared the results with four areas in regular production forests.

More red-listed species

The eco-parks contained more diverse tree species and good access to dead wood. The production forests had many beetles, but not to the same extent as the eco-parks.

– Generally, we found both more species and a larger number of red-listed species in the eco-parks compared to the production forests, she says in a press release.

The dissertation also highlighted the importance of tree diversity in forests. Different types of dead trees benefit different species, according to Bergmark.

– In the eco-parks’ varied landscapes, there is a larger proportion of forest where both old and young trees contribute to the creation of new dead wood over time. Increasing variation with both deciduous and coniferous trees in different stages of decomposition can be an effective way to strengthen biodiversity in managed forests, she says.

Moose and polecat added as threatened species on Sweden’s red list

Biodiversity

Published 4 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The moose population has increased significantly in northern Sweden - but across the country as a whole, there is a clear decline.
2 minute read

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has published a new preliminary version of the red list, where the moose and European polecat are now proposed to be classified as threatened species. Meanwhile, the Eurasian otter is considered to have recovered sufficiently to be removed – after a long period of growth.

The red list is a compilation of species deemed to have such small or declining populations that they risk disappearing from the country in the long term. It is updated every five years, and this year’s preliminary version is open for review and reporting until September 15.

The red-listing of the moose may come as a surprise – especially in northern Sweden, where the population has increased in several areas. In several counties, hunting pressure has therefore been increased to reduce browsing damage. However, looking at the country as a whole, the moose population has decreased by almost a quarter over ten years.

– We are not influenced by any societal goals or the forestry industry’s desire to reduce the population, says Henrik Thurfjell, species group manager at SLU’s Species Information Centre, to Swedish news agency TT.

According to Thurfjell, hunting is the main cause of the decline – despite many hunting teams deliberately shooting fewer moose than their allocated quotas.

– While there are concerns about warmer climate and diseases, the main reason is hunting, he says.

Porpoise in danger, otter recovering

Another species causing concern is the Belt Sea harbor porpoise, which often gets caught in fishing nets as bycatch. Meanwhile, some species show clear recovery. The Eurasian otter has steadily increased for several years and is now being removed from the list, thanks in part to efforts to reduce environmental toxins and chemicals in Swedish water environments.

For a species to be reclassified as viable, the rate of decline must have been below 15 percent over three generations. However, even if this requirement is met, the species is kept on the list for an additional five years as a precautionary measure before potentially being completely removed.

The European polecat, now proposed for red-listing, is believed to be declining in numbers – partly due to competition from otters, which inhabit the same environments.

This year’s preliminary list includes more new additions than removals. In total, 210 species have been added, and 228 have received changed classifications compared to the previous list. Among the newly red-listed species are the elder-flowered orchid, sea trout, herring, and the ringed seal – a seal species native to the Baltic Sea.

Being red-listed doesn’t mean a species is immediately facing extinction. The criteria vary depending on the species. A population of under 20,000 individuals may be sufficient for red-listing – but in other cases, such as for the golden eagle, the number must fall below 2,000.

Peace activist urges NATO–Russia cooperation over toxic munitions on Baltic Sea floor

The new cold war

Published 1 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Approximately 40 tons of hazardous chemical warfare agents lie scattered on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, according to experts.
2 minute read

An estimated 1.6 million tons of World War II ammunition still lies at the bottom of the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

According to experts, this not only poses a security threat but also a growing environmental risk – and removal should be done through international cooperation rather than individual initiatives.

The majority of the ammunition, primarily left behind by Nazi Germany, consists of conventional shells. However, about 40 tons contain dangerous chemical warfare agents, including mustard gas and phosgene. After decades underwater, many of the containers have begun to corrode, posing a threat to the marine ecosystem and potentially to coastal areas.

– The question was how to deal with the recovery of these poison time bombs for the biosphere of the Baltic Sea. Of course, due to the corrosion of these vessels, there is a danger for the fish and the plants, and other countries, says German publicist and peace activist Bernhard Trautvetter in an interview with RT.

He emphasizes that the responsibility cannot lie with a single country and that NATO countries in the Baltic region, as well as Russia, which has access to these waters through its exclave of Kaliningrad and the St. Petersburg area, must join forces to “pull this time bomb out of the world”.

German pilot project

Germany launched a pilot project in 2023 to salvage the ammunition, conducting work in the Bay of Lübeck, with the first phase completed in April this year. The authorities described the project as a success but acknowledged that further technical adaptations are needed in areas where ammunition concentrations are particularly high.

The initiative has simultaneously raised concerns among environmental organizations, researchers, and neighboring countries about how the recovery affects the marine environment, especially if conducted without cross-border coordination.

Russia has long expressed concern about the chemical legacy of the war and has repeatedly called for an international effort to clear the seabed of war materials. In practice, however, Russia has been kept out of the efforts made so far, largely due to the deteriorated security situation and the frosty relationship with the West following the initiation of the war in Ukraine.

EU classifies mink as invasive

Biodiversity

Published 25 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Minks threaten biodiversity by preying on birds, amphibians and small mammals, causing great damage to sensitive ecosystems.
2 minute read

The EU’s list of invasive alien species has been updated – mink is now included. However, Finland plans to apply for an exemption to continue fur farming.

The European Union has updated its list of alien species that threaten biodiversity. The species on the list are banned from being imported, sold, bred, cultivated or used within the EU. One of the most notable new additions is the mink – a decision that is causing concern in the Finnish fur industry, which has been heavily criticised in many quarters.

Invasive species are animals and plants that spread to new areas and cause ecological imbalance. They can outcompete native species and cause significant damage to ecosystems. The EU list is intended as a tool to limit their spread and protect biodiversity.

The inclusion of mink in the ban could deal a severe blow to Finland’s controversial fur farms, but Finland hopes to obtain an exemption, as it did in 2017 when the raccoon dog was added to the list.

– The assessment is that Finland is likely to be granted an exemption, says Karin Cederlöf, government secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

North American beaver displacing European variety

If the exemption is approved, mink farming could continue in the country, but under stricter safety requirements. However, no new farms would be allowed to be established.

Finland is now preparing an official request to the EU for an exemption for mink. The government and parliament have given the go-ahead, and work will start immediately after the summer break.

In addition to mink, the North American beaver has also been added to the list. Finland has already taken measures to reduce the spread of the disease in order to protect the endangered European beaver. These efforts will now be further intensified, according to Cederlöf.

Several new bird and fish species as well as plants are also covered by the rules. Among mammals, in addition to mink, sika deer is also among the newly added species.

The EU’s work against invasive species is usually described as a central part of the Union’s environmental strategy, and the list is updated regularly as new threats are identified. For Finland, the decisions represent a delicate balance between nature conservation and economic interests – and the exemption for mink could be decisive for the future of the fur industry.

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