Abstract

Holtan, D. Barlinda Taxus baccata L. i Møre og Romsdal – på veg ut? Blyttia 59: 197-205.
Taxus baccata in Møre og Romsdal county – a declining species?

Møre og Romsdal county in Western Norway harbours the northernmost populations of European Yew Taxus baccata in the world. The article reviews the status for the species in Sunnmøre, the southern part of the county. Under the protection plan for yew localities in Western Norway 3 localities were protected in 2000. The author documents that several important localities, even more important that the protected ones, were insufficiently known and therefore omitted under the preparation of the plan. The large population of red deer Cervus elaphus in Western Norway clearly conflicts with the conservation of yew, and severe grazing damage to yew is observed at most localities. At most localities there is no observed recruitment, which is also linked to the severe grazing pressure. In addition, cutting of trees by landowners as a way of preventing future protected areas has occured. The author states that local extinction may well be the outcome if the red deer population is not controlled, or if other measures are not carried out, i.e. artificial propagation of yew and transplantation to rock shelves etc inaccessible to deer.

Dag Holtan, Lerstadvegen 271, 6015 Ålesund (xoltan@c2i.net)

Blyttia 59 (4)
Blyttias hjemmeside
Lagt ut 05.01.2002 JW