“We appeal to you to make a decision to protect the entire Fagersjö forest, about 100 hectares. We believe that it is the politicians’ task to work for a good environment. This is what the newly formed forest group in Stockholm writes to local politicians to make them realize that the entire Fagersjö forest needs protection.
Protect the Forest’s new local group in Stockholm visited the urban Fagersjöskogen, in southern Stockholm, this weekend. Despite high biodiversity, the forest is threatened by exploitation: Buildings, roads and commuter train stations.
Fagersjöskogen has no protection but is so far a relatively unexploited forest. It houses both rocky ground with old pines, damp alder trees, large aspens and beautiful hazel groves with old oaks. There is a lot of dead wood, both lying and standing dead trees. In the letter to the politicians, Protect the Forest writes:
– In Europe, there are hardly any forests like this anymore. We hope that you politicians realize that it is unique for a city’s citizens to have a species-rich old-growth forest that extends into the capital.
During the hike, both Green Warbler (NT) and Pine, which have their territories in the forest, sang. On the ground, lilies of the valley, night and day and black witch grape bloom. Other species that visitors to the forest have reported to Artportalen include rye (EN), woodpecker (NT), goshawk (NT), lesser woodpecker (NT), relict beetle (NT), motthorn fungus (NT), pine tick (NT) and calenda berry fungus (NT).
The local group emphasizes that politicians can also work for the climate by protecting the forest because it is a carbon sink, absorbs carbon dioxide and absorbs rainwater during torrential rain, as well as providing shade. They write:
“Just over three out of four Swedes believe that it is important that the policies that are pursued lead to Sweden achieving the climate goals, and this is part of that.
Fagersjöskogen is part of a green wedge
The forest is part of a green wedge, Hanvedenkilen, which stretches into southern Stockholm. Together with the Mayrose Forest (which has recently been protected), the Fagersjö Forest forms a green corridor. Without green corridors, many species find it difficult to move around in the landscape.
The urban forest is also very important from the point of view of human health. Most of the people who live in the immediate area live in apartments and have no gardens of their own. Having close contact with real nature is so valuable. Protect the Forest’s local group writes:
“People feel best when they spend time in unspoiled old-growth forests with high biodiversity. Forests that are a little wild and that are unaffected by machines, research shows.
Shortly, the local group will also have a bird excursion in the forest to report birds to Artportalen.
Read previous articles about Fagersjöskogen:
Make the whole of Fagersjöskogen a nature reserve
Fagersjöskogen: 100 hectares of unprotected, urban forest with high conservation values