baumzaehlen - Primeval Forests & Their Trees

Most of the forest in this park (13 km ² ) has grown without noticeable human disturbance ¹ . Thus, it is the largest primeval forest of southern Finland.

Before the introduction of modern fire suppression, the fire return interval in central Finland was approximately 50–120 years ² . The last fire in the park was in 1921 ¹ . However, these fires were mostly of human origin; particularly in the period which began at the end of 1500’s and ended about 1850, the fire interval was much shorter than the natural one, which had been 200–500 years ³ . Gap-dynamics and surface fires were the dominant natural disturbance regime unlike, for example, in western Siberia and central Canada (see Prince Albert National Park ), where crown fires are dominant ⁴ .

Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) and Picea abies (Norway spruce) dominate. P. sylvestris is present everywhere from bogs to the driest areas; it is the most drought-tolerant and nutrient-stress-tolerant of the Eurasian boreal tree species ⁵ , and the thick bark of large individuals protects them from fire ⁴ . On dry soils, it maintains its dominance, but in the absence of fire, fire-intolerant and more shade-tolerant ⁵ P. abies is invading mesic soils. The dark P. abies stands contrast with light P. sylvestris stands. The other large tree species of the park are Betula pendula (silver birch), B. pubescens (downy birch), Populus tremula (common aspen) and on a few wet sites Alnus glutinosa (black alder). You may have difficulties distinguishing between B. pendula and B. pubescens but other tree species are very easy to identify.

The park is located at an elevation of approx. 160–190 metres . Annual precipitation is 600 mm and average annual temperature 2.5°C. Off-trail hiking is very easy, apart from bogs. Camping is not allowed in the park but possible outside the park boundaries, like everywhere in Finland, Sweden and Norway.

References :

1 Pyhä-Häkin kansallispuisto. Metsähallitus.

2 Parviainen, J., Päivinen, R., Uuttera, J. & Varmola, M. (1999): Finland. In Parviainen, J. et al. (eds.): Research in Forest Reserves and Natural Forests in European Countries . EFI Proceedings No. 16, 1999.

3 Keto-Tokoi, P. & Kuuluvainen, T. (2010): Suomalainen aarniometsä. Maahenki.

4 Shorohova, E., Kneeshaw, D., Kuuluvainen, T. & Gauthier, S. (2011): Variability and Dynamics of Old-Growth Forests in the Circumboreal Zone: Implications for Conservation, Restoration and Management . Silva Fennica 45 (5).

5 Nikolov, N & Helmisaari , H. (1992): Silvics of the circumpolar boreal forest tree species. In Shugart, H. H. et al. (eds.): A Systems Analysis of the Global Boreal Forest , 13 – 84. Cambridge.

Official site:

http://www.nationalparks.fi/en/pyha-hakkinp