Participants on the Research Trip in the Wilderness of Nature Conservation inventoried the forest at Mjällådalen in Västernorrland in 2009. The area was described by the participants as “absolutely fantastic with a wilderness feeling”. Several of the parts that were inventoried during the Research Trip became nature reserves already in 2022. Now another nature reserve is being formed for the lower part of Mjällådalen.
“This is fantastic news! There has been a great commitment to Mjällådalen and I know that many people are happy with me,” says Sofia Lundell, one of the organizers of the Research Trip at Mjällådalen in 2009.
The research trip in the Wilderness of Nature Conservation is Sweden’s largest non-profit forest inventory effort. For a week at the end of July 2009, about fifty people with different backgrounds and knowledge gathered to map nature values and draw attention to the unprotected and valuable forest environments at Mjällådalen.
– Many species were found, several of which were unique to Medelpad. Expressions such as ‘absolutely fantastic’, ‘an experience of a lifetime’ and ‘wilderness feeling’ characterized our evening gatherings when we went through the day’s inventories,” says Sofia Lundell.
It was when the enthusiast Elisabeth Nilsson inventoried old cultural trails at Mjällådalen back in 1998 that she was completely taken by the natural values and the special geology that existed there. She then took the initiative for a number of different inventories in the area, including the Research Trip.
– Finally it is happening – however, it took a full 24 years for the area to become a nature reserve! Despite continued inventories by both committed enthusiasts, species specialists, Timrå municipality and SLU for more than 15 years, I finally gave up hope that Mjällådalen would be protected. Today, there are over 3,000 species, of which just over 190 are red-listed reported on Artportalen. There is even a new species for science, a small violet bowl mushroom that so far lacks a Swedish name,” says Elisabeth Nilsson.
The County Administrative Board established the Mjällådalen Nature Reserve in 2022, which covers 413 hectares. Several of the forests that were inventoried by the participants during the Research Trip are part of that reserve. This year, another nature reserve, Nedre Mjällådalen, covering 132 hectares, will be formed at Höglandsbodarna. This area was also inventoried by the participants during the Research Trip in 2009.
The participants of the research trip came to the following conclusion in their report on Mjällådalen (2009):
”Mjällådalen in Timrå municipality is a gem, with high natural values linked to both natural forest, living water and cultural land, all packaged in a magnificent environment. The geological formations and Mjällån’s pretzel nooks and crannies contribute greatly to the drama of the landscape, and have the potential to attract ecotourists from all over the world .”
Sven Jonsson, one of the authors of the report for the Research Trip at Mjällådalen, writes in the report (2009):
“I cannot help marveling at the feeling of awe for the mighty beauty of nature that could be experienced here. The whole area gave a deep impression of atmospheric, peaceful untouched .”
Now Mjällådalen is finally protected!
Protect the Forest would also like to extend a warm thank you to Elisabeth Nilsson, Sofia Lundell, Hans Sundström and everyone else who has helped to inventory and draw attention to the natural values at Mjällådalen over the years.
Read the report on the Research Trip in Mjällådalen (2009) here.
Read more about news about Mjällådalen and completed inventories here.
Read more about the Mjällådalen nature reserve here.
Read more about hiking projects via Timrå Nature Walk here.
Read more about group hikes and trails via Ljustorp’s hike here.
Facts about the Research Trip
The research trip in the Wilderness of Nature Conservation 2024 is a collaboration between the association Protect the Forest and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. The research trip started back in 1991 by conservationist and enthusiast Anders Delin. The memory of Anders, his fantastic commitment to the natural forest and his deep knowledge of its ecosystems lives on and shapes these and future Research Trips.
Contact
Elisabeth Nilsson, pathfinder and one of the initiators of the Research Trip in Mjällådalen in 2009, tel. 060-820 79, elisabeth.nilsson@ljustorp.se