Impact of forestry and environmental change on the diversity of boreal vegetation since 1950

Species of mires and old forests have declined

The main goal of the project was to study and analyse the changes that have occurred in forest and mire vegetation during the past 40 years. Regional changes in vegetation were analysed from the large-scale vegetation data of three national forest inventories, 1951-53, 1985-86 and 1995. Drastic changes in the frequencies and abundances among the most common forest and mire species were observed. The changes were in broad outline explained by the impact of modern forestry and by changes in land use. Indigenous species of old forests, most barren moorlands and genuine mire sites, as well as species depending on old forms of land use have declined most clearly. Species gaining the most advantage were the pioneer plants of young forests and some herbs favouring fertile sites.

The results have been published in the book Kasvit muuttuvassa metsäluonnossa (Summary: Changes in the frequency and abundance of forest and mire plants in Finland since 1950). This book was announced The Public Informational Award of the State in the year 2001.

Additional information on the project: www.metla.fi/hanke/3222/index-en.htm