Sörskog Skallberget, Naturreservat

The reserve was established to preserve the valuable habitats of natural old pine forest, coniferous forest with a high proportion of dead wood and deciduous coniferous natural forest, and to preserve disadvantaged and threatened species that are characteristic of the habitats in the area.

The reserve consists of an elevation of 420 meters above sea level, as well as associated slopes and slopes. There are six key biotopes within the site. On the heights, old forest grows with late-growing spruces and gnarled, flat-crowned pines, some of which are up to 300 years old. Further down the slopes, the spruce component increases. In parts of the area, human impact is low and the area has natural forest qualities.

Dead wood is present in the form of dry trees, flames and stumps. The area bears traces of fire impact and there are fire stumps scattered in the reserve. In the spruce-dominated lower parts of the reserve, the humidity is high and even.

Animals and plants

The area is home to a number of signal species, whose presence indicates a forest worthy of protection. Among other things, there is the signal species pine tick. It signals natural forests with old trees and usually occurs on trees that are 150 - 200 years old or more. There are also species such as star thorn and wool tick, which signal that there has been a continuity of dead wood in the area. There are also signal species that require high humidity and forest continuity, such as twig lichen, jelly lichen, shadow blue lichen, lung lichen and stump lichen. The latter two also require access to old deciduous trees. The red-listed beetle raggbok has been found in the area. The beetle is dependent on coarse pine boughs with hard heartwood.