More Species Commitment
Here we tell you about some more of SCA's Species Commitment and what their needs are. The beetle Laemophloeus muticus, for example, is dependent on a special type of fungus that grows on fire-damaged birch trees, while the fungus Boletopsis grisea thrives best in s sandy pine forests that have not been clear-felled.
Evodinus borealis
This beetle is only about 10 mm long and has antennae that are longer than half its body. The beetle is classified as vulnerable in the Swedish Red List and thrives best in old coniferous forests with slow-growing spruces.
The beetle's larvae live under loose bark on weak trunks or coarser branches in shady and moist coniferous forests. The trees are usually more than 150 years old, even though they are not coarse. The fully formed beetle flies for a couple of weeks at the beginning of summer.
To benefit the beetle, it is important to protect moist spruce forests with dead wood and old trees that have coarse bark, damage and cavities. When felling spruce forests, care should be taken to leave tree groups in suitable places that can grow into the new forest and age to eventually create suitable habitats.
Boletopsis grisea
Boletopsis grisea is a soil fungi that forms mycorrhiza with pines. It is classified as vulnerable in the Swedish Red List. It thrives best in so-called sandy forests, which have not been clear-felled. Sandy pine forests are poor in nutrients and consist of dry, sandy soil with sparse pine forest. This type of forest is often characterized by fires.
The fungi benefits from sunny, open environments and it is therefore important to create variation between dense and open areas. Since it thrives on land that has always been covered in trees, regeneration logging should not be carried out. However, in some cases, alternative methods can be used to harvest some timber.
It is important to preserve tree continuity and to leave seed trees and groups of trees so that the trees' root systems are preserved. In this way, the fungi can move from the roots of one generation of trees to another and live on. It also needs bare ground with mineral soil and therefore benefits from prescribed burnings.
Bryoria nadvornikiana
Bryoria nadvornikiana is a hanging lichen that prefers to live in spruce forests that have not been clear-felled for a long time. Like many tree-dwelling lichens, it prefers high and even humidity, but not too dark. It is sensitive to rapid changes in light and wind conditions.
To benefit this lichen, we ensure that there are old forests in the landscape and we save patched of consideration when harvetsting, where the trees are allowed to age and become suitable habitats in the future.
Strix uralensis
The owl Ural owl has a wingspan of 100-125 cm. It is classified as near threatened and is found primarily in coniferous forests with openings in the form of marshland, watercourses or clear cut areas. A classic ural owl forest is an old-growth forest with tall pine trees and dry, hollow stumps, so-called chimney stumps, in which they can nest. It takes many hundreds of years for a pine tree to become old, infected with fungus, die, break off and develop into a chimney stump. Chimney stumps are therefore very rare and those that exist should not be damaged.
One way to help the owls, in addition to excluding old and relatively unaffected pine forest environments, is to set up nest boxes in suitable areas. SCA have set up nest boxes in western Medelpad, in collaboration with Birdlife Medelpad. Other ways to benefit the owl are to avoid forestry measures near their nests during the breeding season and to ensure that there are always mature trees around the nests, so that the owls can use them as perches.
Laemophloeus muticus
This beetle is a beetle whose larvae develop in the fungus Daldinia loculata that grows on fire-damaged birch trees. Inside the fungu's black round fruiting bodies, larvae, pupae and mature beetles can be found.
To benefit the beetle, it is important to carry out conservation burning. It should also be ensured that there are birch trees that can age and be exposed to forest fire in the future, so that the beetle always has access to its habitat.
Margaritifera margaritifera
The freshwater pearl mussel is highly endangered and lives in watercourses where trout are present. It requires clear, flowing water that is low in nutrients and has stable pH values. To protect the freshwater pearl mussel, care must be taken when taking measures in forests near streams so as not to deteriorate water quality or destroy the bottom.
It is important to leave shaded edge zones when felling, ensure that sediment is not carried into watercourses, avoid soil damage near the watercourse and clean connecting ditches carefully.
Read more about
Landscapes for endangered species
SCA have designated ten areas as Action Plan landscapes, due to their high concentration of species that are particularly sensitive and require specific management for their habitat. By promoting these species, we can promote several other that also benefit from our measurements.
Prescribed forest burning
Prescribed forest burninh is one of the most effective nature conservation measures that we can perform. Through controlled burnings, we create habitats for species that benefit from the fire or that are dependent on forest fires to be able to survive.
Special efforts for rare species
Some endangered and rare species requires special efforts in order to survive and increase. We do many measures in our Conservation parks, while others are done in selected places where we have found species that need support. Arctic violet, Strix uralensis and Scapania apiculate are among species that SCA is helping. Here you can read about some of our measures.