by Kenneth Høegh, Master of Agriculture
Greenland is usually a country that is not associated with tree growth but, instead, has low tundra vegetation, ice and snow ... But not all of Greenland is a part of the Arctic zone; in the southwest of Greenland there is a sub arctic area, a climate zone immediately below (”sub") arctic climate zone.
The sub arctic zone covers the northern coniferous forests in Canada, Alaska, Siberia and the birch woodlands of north-west Siberia, northern Russia, Scandinavia and Iceland and, furthest to the west, in southwestern Greenland. The deciduous birch, rowan and elm have their main areas of growth in the coastal areas but, the evergreen conifers are mostly prevalent in the more continental areas. An exception is the Sitka spruce-crossing of (Picea x Lutzii) in Alaska, as the mountain birch prefer the coastal climates.
The natural birch forests
The mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) is mainly prevalent in the country's southernmost municipality Kujalleq in protected valleys in the inner fjord areas. Farther north, up to about Paamiut, they are also present although not as small trees as one would see further south.
The primary birch scrub forest areas are found in Tasermiut fjord, the Vatnahverfi area between Igaliku and Alluitsoq fjords, in the hinterland behind Igaliku village and in the inner Tunnuliarfik inlet. The Greenlandic mountain ash (Sorbus groenlandica) is to be found here in the scrub.
Notwithstanding its name, the Greenlandic mountain ash has, moreover, its main area of growth in the North American coniferous forests of Labrador and Newfoundland. The tallest trees are found in Tasermiut fjord, with tall tress up to 10 metres high but, also around Qorlortorsuaq and Jespersens Dal behind Igaliku fjord, some tall trees can be found. The mountain birch are to be found all across the municipality Kujalleq except near the outer coast and highlands, mostly as shrubs measuring between half and one and a half metres in height, though sometimes quite flat to the ground. For example, at the town of Qaqortoq the mountain birch is mostly prevalent as shrubs growing to a height of one metre or slightly more, on sheltered south-facing slopes. In the town there are planted mountain birch from Iceland and Scandinavia, which seem to grow higher than the local mountain birch.
The Greenland birch scrub forests are at the westernmost outpost of the mountain birch forest, which stretches from northwest Siberia to South West Greenland. The mountain birch meets in southern Greenland, the North American dwarf birch, the resin birch (Betula glandulosa), and many of the birch types are hybrids between these two species. Yes, actually the birch scrub and scrub forests averages a swarm of crossings between the two birch species - and Southwest Greenland is the only place in the world where these two species meet - and this is why the Greenlandic mountain birch is genetically unique. For this reason also the Greenland mountain birch deviates somewhat in leaf shape from other region’s mountain birches and this hybridisation is expressed in a variety of Autumn colours in all shades between red and yellow.
The plantations:
The trees depicted on the stamp with the denomination of DKK 10.00 are the oldest exotic trees in Greenland and have their origin from the Danish botanist Rosenvinge’s experiments with seeding in 1892, at Qinngua at bottom of Tunulliarfik fjord at Narsarsuaq. The trees sprouted the following year in 1893, so now they are 117 years old. The pines, which are Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) have their origin in all likelihood from northern Norway. Scots pine can be very old and they can be expected to grow for up to 300-500 years. The trees, which now are 5-6 metres high, have in recent years of milder climate undergone a renaissance, as to say they have been rejuvenated with a new peak. The reason lies, to better climatic conditions in the past 15 years, but also to the nearby younger, but higher, larch forests which provide good shelter from the Foehn winds.
The Genetic C.A. Jorgensen and, later, the botanist Søren Ødum (both from the Agricultural College / University of Copenhagen) made, along with the forester trained Poul Mountains (Upernaviarsuk), a major effort in identifying the species, clones and climate species used today.
The plantation Qanasiassat has, since 1953, been built up right beside Rosenvinges trees. The largest larch trees are here over 10 metres high. In total, 10 smaller plantations and more elusive planting areas in southwestern Greenland have been built since the 1950s. These plantations include areas of a few thousand square feet and one of up to 7 hectares of which include:
- The arboretum in Narsarsuaq is the largest planted area in Greenland, with more than 100 hectares with more than 100,000 trees transplanted, more than 100 species and a wealth of different origins. It consists of many small groves, located in the valleys behind and on the plain at Narsarsuaq. The groves were established in 1976 and are still in extistencel today. Various nature trails have been made in the area and a mapping project of the area is ongoing. The area is developing into a tourist attraction.
- The double plantation at Kuussuaq in Tasermiut was established in 1959-61. There are some beautiful specimens of nearly 10 metres high Sitka spruce crossings.
- The planting area at Uiluit Nuua at “Klosterdalen” in Tasermiut consists of Engelmann spruce and Siberian larch and was established to mark the Nanortalik 200th anniversary in 1997.
- The plantation at the school camp Tatsip Ataa in Igaliku fjord, was established by Qaqortoq school, with many schoolchildren as planters. There are a few different species, although the Siberian larch is dominant.
- The small plantation at Upernaviarsuk was planted in the 1960s. It is, in particular, Sitka spruce crossings from Alaska which have thrived particularly well in the cool summer maritime climate, with wide, lush and dense trees growing up to 3-4 metres.
- The children's forest in Itilleq at Igaliku, was founded in honour of the 25th anniversary of the Home Rule in 2004, the planters were mainly high school students from Qaqortoq. This was established at the initiative of the allotment association in Qaqortoq and the village council in Igaliku and is comprised of 11,000 Siberian larch, representing girls born between 1979 and 2004, and 11,000 trees of (Engelmann and Sitka spruce-crossing), representing boys born during this period.
- The small plantation at the end of Igaliku fjord is primarily planted with Siberian larch.
- The planting areas in Ameralla (Ameralik) and Qooqqut at Nuuk, the latter planted from 1976 until the late 1980s, and primarily with contorta spruce and white spruce. In Ameralla in Ameralik there has been planted twice, in 1992 with plants from Alaska and NW Canada and, in 2002, with plants from Siberia.
- The scattered planting areas in the hinterland at Kangerlussuaq Airport have been planted since 1976, but the experiments with white spruce from northern Alaska and Canada in the 1980s and 1990s were successful in finding a species that would grow well. There are, in addition to white spruce also balsam poplar, Siberian larch and Scots pine.
An interesting aspect is that the northern Scandinavian mountain birches are of the same species as the Greenlandic that grows well in Kangerlussuaq, whereas the transplanted South Greenland mountain birch has not fared well. This may suggest that the Greenland mountain birch is highly oceanic, which did not lend itself to the winter cold, continental Kangerlussuaq.
The future:
The milder climate we are experiencing these days will allow for more tree growth in southwest Greenland, and there have been planted some trees in the southern cities Qaqortoq and Narsaq and by sheep farms and in Narsarsuaq. It is, primarily, the feltleaf arrow (Salix alaxensis) and black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa) that you see in sheltered spots, especially the black cottonwood which evolves into beautiful trees.
Time will tell if larger areas of plantations are to be planted, thinking of both conventional plantations as well as pastures with combined functions. Examples could include areas that can be planted with conifers, especially the Siberian larch, and eventually the forest, can be used for grazing by sheep. One such project with the planting of an area of 100 hectares is under preparation in the area by Qanasiassat and Rosenvinge's trees.
Yes, the trees in Greenland have a future with good growth ...