Lilla Kroktjärnsberget, Naturreservat

The Lilla Kroktjärnsberget nature reserve is located east of Kopparberg and consists of valuable natural forests and many interesting species of fungi, lichens and mosses.

Old growth forest

The Lilla Kroktjärnsberget nature reserve is dominated by a dramatic cliff. From the top of the cliff you have a magnificent view of the southern part of the reserve. A hundred-year-old coniferous forest with elements of dry pine trees grows on the hill. The steep slope itself is very rough and has a large number of aspen, birch and rowan trees. There are also old and coarse spruces with large clusters of twine lichens. Below the slope there is a depression with coarse spruce forest and parts with spruce swamp forest. There is a wide age range among the trees and there are clear traces of older forest fires.

Good environment for many species

The forest in the reserve has a natural forest-like structure and a diversity of plants, animals, fungi, lichens and mosses that do not survive in today's modern forests. The area contains a large amount of dead wood. There are many species that indicate that the area has been wooded for a long time. The presence of ponds, streams, marshes and springs contributes to high humidity, which is favorable for moisture-demanding fungi, lichens and mosses. Among these, particular mention should be made of the presence of salmon tick, scented skin, starry tagging and border tick, and hanging lichens such as violet-grey tagellavore and yarn lichen. The area is home to a number of declining or threatened forest birds such as the three-toed woodpecker, the woodpecker and the capercaillie. Among the wood-boring beetles, the presence of the pine weevil, which is associated with northern natural pine forests, can be mentioned.

Coal production

Within the reserve there are traces of older forestry here and there. During the heyday of mining, large quantities of charcoal were produced in the forests of Bergslagen, which were consumed in large quantities in the area's smelters. Traces of coal mines can still be seen today in the form of coal bunkers, the ruins of coal pits and old stumps.