Swedish swamp forests have a considerable conservation value because o
f their rich biodiversity which includes many threatened species. They
have been interpreted as refugia from fire with long histories of for
est continuity. Palaeoecological investigation of a small swamp forest
in northern Sweden shows that the forested area was under cultivation
500 years ago. The present forest has only developed during the last
300 years as a consequence of changes in land-use. Palaeoecology can b
e used to test assumptions about stability, disturbance and 'natural'
vegetation. Results from such studies suggest that communities are hig
hly dynamic, and conservation policy should create a framework within
which dynamic processes can operate, in addition to species preservati
on. Our method is a potentially valuable tool in the formulation of fu
ture nature conservation policy.