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Traditions in Norwegian forests

Traditions in Norwegian forests. Karen Marie Mathisen Hedmark University College Department of forestry and wildlife management RUTH 2008. 800. 1000. 1100. 1200. 1300. 1400. 1500. 1600. 1700. 1800. 1900. 2000. Norwegian history of wood use. Timber floating.

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Traditions in Norwegian forests

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  1. Traditions in Norwegian forests Karen Marie Mathisen Hedmark University College Department of forestry and wildlife management RUTH 2008

  2. 800 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 Norwegian history of wood use

  3. Timber floating • Earliest registered around 1100, increased with increasing importance of timber • Regulated by law in 1794: gave the landowner some income for collection of timber in the river • 1854: floating organizations and cleaning of rivers regulated by law • All logs were measured and marked with the owners mark, before they were let out into the river • 5-6% disappeared on the way, some were stolen

  4. Timber floating • Rivers were straightened out to ease the floating, sometimes channels were built around difficult areas, dams were built to regulate river flows • In lakes the timber was gathered in rafts and floated across • When all the timber was into the river, a cleaning team would follow the timber and loosen timber that got stuck at difficult places • Tools and equipement: pike pole, boats

  5. Timber lenses and lake transport

  6. Horses and forestry • Until 1945 almost all timber was taken out of the forest by horsepower • 1983: less than 2% • Advantages of using the horse: • Low impact on terrain and surrounding forest • Low investment • Good availability in difficult terrain • Useful for thinning

  7. Horses and forestry • Disadadvantages of using a horse: • Need of supervision • Everyday care • Manual work in the forest • Horses used in Norwegian forestry: • Dølahest • Fjording • Ardenner (Belgium)

  8. Use of forest by domestic animals • 15-20% of Norwegian sheep are grazing in the forest (1996), also cows, horses and goats (but mountain fields are more important) • Earlier this was more common, especially because few areas were suitable for agriculture in Norway • In summertime domestic animals were herded by shepards

  9. Use of forest by domestic animals • 22% of Norways area is productive forest areas • 50% is potential grazing areas • In winter time animals were kept in enclosures or stables near the houses

  10. In addition to summer grazing, winter forage was collected in forest areas

  11. Agriculture and forest burning • 1620: burning of forest for agriculture was introduced from Finland, a practice that was used for several hundred years at Finnskogen, • They cut the forest and left it to dry for a year, before they sat fire to the forest and planted rye in the ashes • A good area could be used for 3 years before they had to burn a new area – area demanding method • This method ended before 1900, because the forest was soon more valuble for timber use

  12. Birch • Bark (waterproof, roofs, clothes, backpacs, oil, paper, fire) • Sap (drink, medicin, skin treatment, beer, wine) • Lye from birch ashes used for soap etc.

  13. Birch • Burl, flamy birch and curly birch – bowls, cups and furniture • Dry leaves and bark for domestic animals • Roots and shoots (baskets, ropes)

  14. Pine • Tar (wounds, skin problems, medicin, antiseptic, waterproofing of houses and boats, boots and skiis) • Needles (vitamin C on boattrips) • Long-lasting wood: stave churches and log houses, boats • Christmas tree on the west coast • Resineous wood for fire and light • Bark (bread 1812, food for sheep and goats, floaters for fish nets)

  15. Spruce • Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square (since 1946) • Shoots (vitamin C, medicin for pain and infections, tea, beer) • Resin (desinfection, vitamin C, chewing gum) • Cones (plaster, ointment) • Needles (against insects) • Most important tree, less strong wood

  16. Berry resources • Vaccinium myrtillus /Blueberry • Vaccinium vitis – idaea/ Lingonberry • Vaccinium uliginosum/Bog bilberry • Rubus chamaemorus/ Cloudberry • Empetrum nigrum/ Crowberry • Vaccinium oxycoccus/ Cranberry

  17. Mushrooms • 7-8000 species of mushroom, 1000 edible, 100 are good food mushrooms

  18. Women in forest traditions • Traditionally gatherers • Forest owners • 12 % working in forestry (1990) • Girs in forestry school had 4 challenges: • Get the chainsaw started • Boys attitudes • Their own attitudes and others towards feminine/masculine identity and farmers

  19. Yggdrasil

  20. Thank you for your attention 

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