Flötö, Naturreservat

Flötö is located on the south-eastern tip of Ivös. The reserve consists of a forested peninsula that was created after a lowering of Lake Ivösjön that took place around the 1870s. Before that, the area was lake bottom.

Peninsula with high natural values

Today, the entire peninsula is covered by closed and dense mixed deciduous forest dominated by ash with elements of elm, wych birch and alder. Despite its small area and the relatively young age of the forest, Flötö and its associated water area have relatively high natural values. The peninsula is designated as a key biotope and there is plenty of dead or dying wood.

Fish and flora

The wealth of vascular plants is great in both the tree, shrub and field layers and the area is home to at least 22 signal species, two of which are red-listed. Examples of species in the area are desm bud, two-leaf, St. Per's keys, lundelm, collared earthstar, alsopp, curly moss, scaly felt lichen and giant sponge moth. The lake part of the reserve is also home to the fish species nissöga and Ivösjön probably has the strongest population of the species in the country.

In English

Welcome to Flötö Nature Reserve

The nature reserve protects an area that emerged when the level of Lake Ivösjön was

lowered in 1872 to 1874. Stone fences and stone-cleared fields show that the peninsula was used for cultivation early on. However, both growing and grazing ceased already in the 1930s.

The area was left to its own and quickly became overgrown. A dense mixed deciduous forest and a species-rich grove flora have taken over.

The reserve also protects part of Lake Ivösjön, with its clear and nutrient-poor water. The lake contains an abundance of fish and has Sweden's strongest population of spined loach.

There are no marked paths in the area.

Regulations

Within Flötö Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• dig, remove, drill, paint or in any other way damage soil formations, stone walls, boulders, flat rocks, stones or other natural objects or cultural remains,
• carry out any form of construction work or erect objects alien to the reserve, or arrange places for laying-up or mooring vessels,
• remove wood or damage trees, shrubs, stumps or dead wood,
• dig up plants or pick plants for commercial use,
• collect mosses, lichens or wood-living fungi,
• deliberately disturb wildlife,
• park caravans, campers or similar,
• light fires.

Furthermore, without written permission from the County Administrative board it is forbidden to:

• catch insects, spiders, snails, slugs or other invertebrates other than by netting, hand picking or other selective method with the subsequent reintroduction within the nature reserve. The requirement for reintroduction does not apply to individual voucher specimens of each species on condition that the record is logged in the reporting system Artportalen and that the collection is not contrary to the species protection regulations.