Göran Bergqvist, Roger Bergström, Märtha Wallgren. (2014). Recent browsing damage by moose on Scots pine, birch and aspen in young commercial forests – effects of forage availability, moose population density and site productivity. Silva Fennica vol. 48 no. 1 article id 1077. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.1077

Keywords: Pinus; Betula; Populus; Alces alces

Highlights: Moose damage was most common on aspen and least common on Scots pine; Damage to Scots pine increased when the amount of pine browse decreased, moose index and site index increased and when birch was overtopping pine; Damage to birch increased when moose index increased and damage to aspen increased when the amount of pine and birch browse decreased.

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Moose browsing damage from the winter preceding the study (recent damage) on Scots pine, birch and aspen was examined in relation to forage availability, an index of moose population density and site productivity in young forests in the hemiboreal zone. Recent damage was observed for 4.1 ± 0.54% (mean ± SE; Scots pine), 16.8 ± 1.89% (birch) and 67.6 ± 13.76% (aspen) of the trees. A multiple regression with five independent variables explained 19% (Scots pine) 14% (birch) and 33% (aspen) of the variation in recent damage. Cover of Scots pine browse was the most important variable for predicting damage to Scots pine and accounted for 44% of the explained variation. When birch was overtopping pine there was a significant increase in damage to pine. Moose index was the only significant variable to explain recent damage to birch, and accounted for 64% of the explained variation. For aspen, damage was negatively correlated to coverage of Scots pine and birch browse, each variable accounting for 38% of the explained variation. For Scots pine, increasing the number of pines ha^–1 and performing pre-commercial thinning in such a way that pines are not overtopped may be efficient ways of reducing damage proportions, whereas birch needs to be protected from moose (by a reduction of the moose population or otherwise) in order to escape damage. Increased amounts of Scots pine browse and birch browse may also reduce damage levels to aspen, according to this study.

Bergqvist, Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management, Öster Malma, SE-611 91 Nyköping, Sweden E-mail: goran.bergqvist@jagareforbundet.se
Bergström, Forestry Research Institute of Sweden, Uppsala Science Park, SE-751 83 Uppsala, Sweden; (present) Gropgränd 2 A, SE-753 10 Uppsala, Sweden E-mail: larsrogerbergstrom@yahoo.com
Wallgren, Forestry Research Institute of Sweden, Uppsala Science Park, SE-751 83 Uppsala, Sweden E-mail: martha.wallgren@skogforsk.se

Category : Review article

article id 24021, category Review article

Eva Ring, Märtha Wallgren, Erland Mårald, Per Westerfelt, Line Djupström, Aron Davidsson, Johan Sonesson. (2024). Forest roads in Sweden – infrastructure with multiple uses and diverse impacts. Silva Fennica vol. 58 no. 4 article id 24021. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.24021

Keywords: insects; forestry; recreation; reindeer; water; plants; wildlife

Highlights: The extensive network of forest roads in Sweden facilitates both forestry transportation and other activities including recreation, berry-picking, hunting, tourism, and firefighting; The multiple uses of roads can lead to conflicts when the interests between stakeholders and forest owners collide; Despite its extent, research into the social, ecological, and environmental consequences of Sweden’s forest road network is limited.

Abstract | Full text in HTML | Full text in PDF | Author Info

Since the 1950s, more than 200 000 km of roads have been built in Sweden’s forests, making them easily accessible and open to multiple uses. The aim of this study was to review the impacts of forest roads in Sweden from a broad perspective encompassing social, ecological, and environmental factors. The Swedish case is interesting because it has an extensive network of permanent forest roads which were built primarily for forestry-related transportation but are currently used by many other stakeholders for many different purposes. Forest roads not only facilitate transportation of wood, machinery, personnel, and equipment into and out of the forest but also enable emergency response to wildfires and support berry and mushroom picking, hunting, recreation, tourism, and access to second homes. The roads increase the opportunities for members of the public to experience forests in various ways. Conflicts arise when different interests collide, for example when the interests of the forest owner clash with those of commercial berry-picking companies, tourism entrepreneurs, or reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) herding. Forest roads may have ecological impacts such as barrier and disturbance effects, fragmentation or loss of habitats, altering fauna movement patterns, and changing the composition of plant and insect species. The environmental impacts of forest roads relate to, among other things, hydrology, water quality, and erosion. Predicted changes in the climate are likely to place new demands on Swedish forest roads but, despite their extent, this review shows that there is only a small amount of rather fragmented research on their social, ecological, and environmental consequences. Overall, few studies appear to cover both social and ecological/environmental factors and their interactions, either in Sweden or elsewhere. This review provides examples of such interactions in the case of Sweden, and suggests that more research into these and the specific social, ecological, and environmental factors involved is warranted.

Ring, Skogforsk (The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden), Uppsala Science Park, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8962-9811 E-mail: eva.ring@skogforsk.se
Wallgren, Skogforsk (The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden), Uppsala Science Park, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, 907 36 Umeå, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3172-4496 E-mail: martha.wallgren@skogforsk.se
Mårald, Umeå University, Department of Historical. Philosophical and Religious Studies, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2291-9910 E-mail: erland.marald@umu.se
Westerfelt, Skogforsk (The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden), Uppsala Science Park, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2040-8305 E-mail: per.westerfelt@skogforsk.se
Djupström, Skogforsk (The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden), Uppsala Science Park, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden; Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, 907 36 Umeå, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4536-7765 E-mail: line.djupstrom@skogforsk.se
Davidsson, Skogforsk (The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden), Uppsala Science Park, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2736-8656 E-mail: Aron.davidsson@skogforsk.se
Sonesson, Skogforsk (The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden), Uppsala Science Park, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2018-7496 E-mail: Johan.sonesson@skogforsk.se

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