Genstigsbrännan, Naturreservat

In the Genstigsbrännan nature reserve you will find a varied old-growth forest. The terrain is hilly and blocky, with trees of different ages. The forest contains both open and closed environments. It is home to unusual lichens, fungi, mosses and animals, species that cannot live in our usual modern production forests.

Locusts and forest fires

Welcome to an exciting and adventurous walk. Here and there you will come across bogs and marshes, small ponds and locusts. A locus is a clear, often round, depression that is occasionally filled with water. Its water level follows the groundwater and can change in a short time. Also look out for fire sounds. These are the wounds that form on stumps and tree trunks during forest fires. Large parts of the forest here burned down about 150 years ago. Many pine trees survived the fire and are still standing. Since then, there has been at least one other forest fire in the area.

Animals and plants that thrive in old forests

The forest in Genstigsbrännan is spared from large-scale forestry. There are many old trees in the area, but also many dead trees. The spruce bark fungus, the border fungus and the wool fungus are examples of fungi that grow on fallen dead spruce or pine trunks. If you are lucky, you may see three-toed woodpeckers, barn owls and capercaillie. The three-toed woodpecker is dependent on dead or dying trees where it finds much of its food in the form of bark beetles. Some examples of rare lichens that have been found in the reserve are shadow lichen, broktagel and Norwegian beak lichen. Look for them on boulders with sharp sides in damp locations.

Traces of coal production

Here and there are traces of charcoal production. Charcoal making was an important source of income for the local crofters. The finished charcoal was used to make iron in the ironworks. All around here in the forest, there are traces of coal beds, where coal mines once stood. Next to them there is usually a charcoal hut, where those who guarded the mila slept and cooked their food.