Post by ukpacker on Nov 20, 2019 5:00:22 GMT -8
Stabbursdalen NP protects one of the worlds most northerly pine forests which struggle to grow much above sea level in this arctic environment, above the pines birch trees and the occasional rowan are pretty much the only tree that can grow. I made a visit to photograph the autumn colour, unfortunately I found a lot of dead trees at higher levels, successive invasions of pine tree moths and their caterpillars had defoliated much of the higher birch forest killing the trees. This area is summer reindeer grazing pasture and except for a fenced off enclosure I saw virtually no regeneration of birch trees , it seems unlikely that this high level forest can survive beyond the present generation of trees. Closer to sea level trees were regenerating with no problem, I assume this is because mosquitoes keep the deer at higher altitudes during the summer growing season.
