While the sustainability park in Sarkanenä comprises old forest, it lacks certain natural forest characteristics. Re-creating natural forest structures has been the primary goal of Boliden’s ecological compensation work. The forests still bear traces of earlier dimensional and selective felling; they are sparse, and there is little dead wood, so a major part of our compensation work has involved providing a variety of high-quality dead wood to create habitats for many wood-dependent species. Liberation cutting of large coniferous and deciduous trees creates free space for trees to crown, while placing out hollow trees and nesting boxes benefits birdlife. The ecological compensation in Sarkanenä was made possible through a collaboration between SLU, Boliden, and landowner, Sveaskog. Strengthening natural values has taken place in the area thanks to ecological compensation and will increase over time. This not only makes Sarkanenä an exciting destination for visits today, but also far into the future.
It is also important to emphasize that active reindeer herding is still carried out in the area.
