Forest ecology - Säby Västerskog

Emil’s project focuses on studying Säby Västerskog, a forest in the southern part of Östergötland, Sweden. The forest was first protected as a “naturminne” (natural monument) in 1922, giving it over a century of protection status. The goal is to deepen understanding of forest ecology and examine how woodlands evolve when left to natural regeneration processes. This project builds upon a comprehensive tree inventory map created in 1937. A new inventory of the entire area is now completed, allowing us to analyze changes in forest structure and tree mortality over an 85-year period. This comparative study provides valuable insights into long-term ecological succession in protected forest environments.