Skógræktarritið - 15.05.2001, Page 92

Fig. 1. In Havnardal.
- Afforestation sites, including
recreational areas, = 80 ha.
Glimpses of developments:
One hundred years ago, the num-
ber of suitable species of trees
and shrubs available for those cit-
izens who were interested in
planting for gardening or other
purposes, were limited to around
10- 15species. In 1909, the first
tree nursery in the Faroes was
established in the woodland area
in Tórshavn. In 1977 the Skógrokt
landsins joined the Nordic
Arboretum Committee and thus
got access to new plant material
of specially suited origin.
In 1991 the Skógrokt landsins
was able to allocate the first
resources to work full time with
plant production in the designat-
ed nursery area. Today's nursery
stock list at Skógrokt landsins
comprises a total of 120 different
tree and shrub species, cultivars
etc. This material has been under
some trials and can now be rec-
ommended for use.
The indigenous dendroflora at
present consists of: Salix pfiylicifolia,
S. lanata, S. arctica, and S. herbacea,
Juniperus communis var. nana, and
Rosa mollis. Archaeological excava-
tions have revealed that Betula
pubescens and even Corylus avellana
were growing in the Faroes at the
time of settlement around 800
A.D. (or landnam, which is the
Nordic expression). Most of the
lowland, i.e. up to 200 - 300 m
a.s.l., was covered with woodland
or scrub at the time of landnam.
Fig. 2. In Gundadal.
At Skógrokt landsins we now have
at programme of collecting plant
material from as many of the rem-
nant populations of the local den-
drovegetation as possible. Pro-
pagated plants from this material
will then be used in replanting
activity ofvarious kind, including
sale to the private garden market.
In the mid seventies, the first
private garden landscaping firm
was set up in Tórshavn. Previous
to this, only part time occupation
had been possible in this profes-
sion here. In 2000 there are 3
such firms in Tórshavn alone,
and they employ 10 people on a
permanent basis, and additional-
ly quite a few during the summer
time. Both Tórshavn and Klaksvík
city councils have appointed
posts as city gardeners, and
other councils are likely to follow
them.
These companies and institu-
tions mentioned above are all
heavily dependant upon the
plant production and sale pro-
vided by the Skógrokt landsins.
In addition, we also sell plants to
garden centres and to private
garden owners.
A survey 14 years ago of a 50
year old Pinus contorta stand
showed an annual production >
7 mVha/year.
In the Seventies, a local
teacher began to develop his
skills and perfection in the art of
woodturning using only faroese
grown wood. Today Ole Jacob
Nielsen is well reputed for his
wood turning art, both at home
Fig. 3. in the garden of J. Dahl.
and abroad, where he has been
invited to several exhibitions.
Others are following in his foot-
steps.
The afforested areas are very
popular recreation sites for the
public, and some locals even
have adapted to the leisure of
picking mushrooms there in the
fall. Jn addition, these areas are
very popular sites for both
ornithological and entomological
observations. In the larger towns,
the plantations also play an
instrumental role for the outdoor
programmes offered to children
at the various day nurseries.
It is remarkable how often
trees, shrubs, or just twigs or
flowers are used as surroundings
or the background for illustra-
tions, TV-interviews and other
cultural events here. Tórshavn
town council has decided to
hand out 2000 larch trees to the
citizens, to mark the millennium.
So, I believe we are building up
both social capital and natural
capital, to quote professor
Amdam.
A few years ago, one farmer
bought some plants of Abies sp. to
grow for Christmas trees and
decoration greenery. This sum-
mer we provided another farmer
with a few Lupinus nootkatensis, in
a small scale trial to combat the
big erosion problems in his graz-
ing areas.
So, we are also seeing the
beginnings of the build up of
economic capital?
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SKÓGRÆKTARRITIÐ 2001 l.tbl