Båsbergen, Naturreservat

The Båsbergen nature reserve's forests are old and patchy with a large number of deciduous trees. The oldest pines are almost 300 years old, and the slopes and valleys have tall spruce forests. Lung lichen and three-toed woodpecker are some of the rare species you may encounter in the reserve.

Rare species

The forests of Båsbergen are home to both plants and animals that have difficulty surviving in modern production forests. Wood moss and green shield moss are two rare mosses that thrive on coarse, decaying spruce logs. On the trunks of aspen and rowan trees grows the ill-green lungwort, and on rocks and large boulders you can find coral lichen and shadow blue lichen. Bird life is characterized by the species of the large forest. Both capercaillie and wolverine are present, as well as the woodpecker and the rare three-toed woodpecker.

Forest grazing and logging

Small parts of the area have been logged in modern times. There are also traces of large-scale felling from the turn of the last century, but beyond that the forest has a history as a multiple-use forest. Over time, it has certainly been sparser, but never completely clear-cut. Timber and firewood were taken for domestic use and charcoal was needed for the local smelters and mills. In the reserve there are several charcoal huts (places where charcoal kilns stood) and remains of charcoal huts. Cattle grazing in the forest contributed to its openness, and it is still possible to find juniper bushes in the forest as a reminder of a more open state.

Bear trap mountain

Båsbergen is located high up on the eastern slope of Kilsbergen, on a watershed. Some of the reserve's streams flow to the Baltic Sea, while others flow to the Skagerack. The name Båsbergen actually refers to the heights in the northern part of the reserve, which has given its name to the entire reserve. The prefix "Bås-" comes from the word "björnbåse" - a trapping device for bears that is said to have existed here. Nowadays there are no bears in Kilsbergen, but with a little luck you may see traces of lynx.

Accessibility

Båsbergen belongs to level 1 in the County Administrative Board's leveling of the county's nature reserves, which means that the reserve has a wilderness character and lacks outdoor recreation facilities. The Bergslagsleden trail passes through the southern part of the reserve.