Branäsberget, Naturreservat

Nature reserve with miles of views over Klarälvsdalen. On the slopes of Branäsberget you can find the endangered species longbeard.

The Branäsberget nature reserve was established to enable both the preservation of valuable nature and the continued expansion of the ski resort.

The nature reserve is located on a steep slope between the top of Branäsberget and Klarälven. Old pine-dominated forest makes up the majority of the reserve, but smaller areas of leaner pine-dominated land occur, as well as younger forest stands with a larger element of deciduous trees.

Animals and plants

The reserve will also protect the red-listed species found in the area. One of these is the lichen long beard, Usnea longissima, which has an unusually large occurrence in the reserve. The site is believed to be home to the largest population of long beard in southern and central Sweden. The species is strongly linked to so-called fire refugial (areas that usually escape fire) open spruce forests. Today, the species is only found in forests that have never been clear-cut.

The closed nature of the forest and the slope to the northeast are important for the microclimate, which is crucial for the special flora that occurs in the area. The reserve also preserves old pine-dominated natural forest with coarse-barked trees, dying and dead trees and dead wood.