The Tyresta Forest Foundation (Stiftelsen Tyrestaskogen) is logging forest in the Tyresta Nature Reserve, a protected area. Both old pines and spruce trees have been felled at the Coastal Trail (Kustleden) and the Foundation continues to fell and thin out forest. A new change in the nature reserve’s management plan allows free-cutting around pine trees in areas that were previously left alone. “They are damaging the natural values,” says Kristina Bäck, member of Protect the Forest.
Earlier this autumn, the Tyresta Forest Foundation felled 180-year-old pine trees and 120-year-old spruce trees along the Coastal Trail, just northwest of Vissvass in the eastern part of Tyresta Nature Reserve. The felling took place in an old coniferous forest with a lot of pine. Members of Protect the Forest have found Goodyera repens, an orchid which is a red-listed as vulnerable (VU), in the forest. Porodaedalea pini which is near threatened (NT) fungi that only thrives on pines older than 100 years, grows right next to the felled area. The Tyresta Forest Foundation has transformed the forest into a park-like pine forest where all trees are the same size. They have also cut away all the undergrowth and removed dead wood.
“The new addition in the management plan which involves free-cutting trees and brush around pine trees is damaging the natural values. Management such as felling trees can now be carried-out in parts of the nature-reserve that were previously left alone. Not enough consideration is given to species, valuable biotopes and the forest as a whole, says Kristina Bäck, member of Protect the Forest.
Felling old trees is contrary to the management plan
The forest at the Coast Trail is old. Nevertheless, the Tyresta Forest Foundation stepped in and thinned out the old pines and the this is contrary to the management plan. The felled trees are located in an area where the forest should have been left for free development.
According to the management plan, edge zones and forest edges with a depth of a about 30 meters may be created in order to form a gradual transition towards open lands and roads. At The Coastal Trail machines have been in and felled the forest over a 100 meters from the road. The Tyresta Forest Foundation has explained that they have been free-cutting pine trees.
In May 2021, the County Administrative Board, on the advice of the Tyresta Forest Foundation, decided on changes in the management plan for the nature reserve. It is now be possible for the Foundation to fell, clear-cut or debark trees around pines that grow in younger stands in forests that previously were left alone for free development. This is done for the sake of the flora and fauna, according to the Foundation.
The County Administrative Board has decided on more changes to the management plan on the advice of the Tyresta Forest Foundation. They intend to increase the proportion of measures in the form of fellings, thinning and clearing.
Natural values are actively destroyed
“Instead of preserving the valuable forest, the Tyresta Forest Foundation is actively destroying natural values and habitats for very many species. Even for those who are red-listed and protected. If measures are planned, careful inventories should be carried out, as well as assessments of the consequences of the measures in the surrounding areas. There is a reason why Tyresta Nature Reserve and National Park were formed and it should be obvious to preserve the values that exist”, says Kristina Bäck, member of Protect the Forest.
Contact
Kristina Bäck, member of Protect the Forest: 070-443 28 19, kristinamback@hotmail.com