Nysundberget, Naturreservat

On the slopes of Nysundberget stand ancient pine trees that have escaped modern forestry practices. Many are around 300 years old. Here you can also explore stretches of spruce forest along the streams, sedge marshes, and an old mountain pasture located just outside the area. Photo: Dalarna County Administrative Board

Ancient, undulating bedrock

It’s not just the trees that are old here. The forests rest on solid bedrock. How about granite that’s about 1.7 billion years old... This physiographic region is known by the beautiful name “bergkullslätt” (hill-dune plains). These plains are common in Västerdalarna and consist of expanses of bedrock with isolated elevations known as “bergkullar” (hillocks). However, the granite is nutrient-poor, which is reflected in the flora.

Poor Soil but Abundant Rare Species

Typical coniferous forest vegetation grows here, with mats of various lichens being most common on the drier pine-covered areas. In the moister, spruce-dominated sections, there is more brush and moss. In the northern part, there are areas of marshes interspersed with strips of forest. The marshes are home to an abundance of sedges. But even though flowering plants do not thrive here, the flora of lichens and fungi is all the more impressive. How about old spruce cup lichen, cream pore fungus, and drop-toothed fungus, or glossy black nail lichen, short-stemmed rusty nail lichen, and dwarf cup lichen? The names alone are beautiful—just imagine what the fungi and lichens must look like!

Past Land Use and Visitors

The forests around Tandövala have been shaped by human activity throughout history. Traces dating back to the Stone Age can be found in the form of settlements and hunting pits. During the late Middle Ages, the area was used for the production of bog iron ore, fishing, and hunting. The first traces of summer pastures appear as early as the late 17th century. In connection with summer pasture operations, the forest and marshes were used to gather fodder and timber. Forest fires associated with summer pasture operations were common until 1870. The Kladden mountain pasture, which is not part of the reserve but is surrounded by it, was likely established in the early 1700s and remained in operation until the 1940s. Today, there are no animals at Kladden, but the land around the mountain pasture itself is kept open through mowing, which helps preserve the natural values associated with open landscapes.

Today’s Visitors

Those who wish to visit the area today can do so in winter via snowmobile trails, in summer via hiking trails, or on many of the footpaths that, unfortunately, are becoming overgrown and may therefore be difficult to follow. Until everything is in place on this website and on the map below, you can see where these trails are located in the decision. The decision is attached to this page; see Appendix 2, the regulatory map.