Vantakalleberget, Naturreservat

The Vantakalleberget nature reserve has a varied nature. There are coniferous forests and differences in altitude between the forest plateaus and Hallsjön. The lake, which has a rich bird life, is a bird protection area.

The nature reserve includes a forest area around Hallsjön, which lies within the catchment area of Listerbyån. Listerbyån flows through the lake with the inlet in the north and the outlet in the south. Hallsjön is a nutrient-poor lake that has been limed to reduce acidification. Most of the lake and the area east of it is a bird sanctuary to protect the bird life and it is not allowed to visit during the period March 1 to July 15. Osprey is one of the nesting species to be protected.

Species richness

The two nature reserves Vantakalleberget and Gröngölsmåla together form a large coniferous forest-dominated area. The forest is of varying ages and has been managed according to old traditions by thinning and picking. These methods mean that trees of different ages remain after felling. The forest has therefore retained its natural forest character, which has created conditions for a rich fauna. The forest consists on the lean rocky areas mainly of pine with smaller stands of spruce interspersed in the wetter depressions and in the northern part of mixed coniferous forest. The birch, oak and beech stands are quite large, especially in the lower parts and at Hallsjön and the inlet.

Green tick is a rare tree fungus associated with beech and occurs at the southern part of Hallsjön. Thinning and clearing that favors the development of older beech and increases light penetration also favors the green tick.

The broad yellow-breasted diver and broad sequin diver are two protected beetle species that have been found in Hallsjön. Both live as predators both as larvae and adult beetles, primarily eating aquatic insects.