RED-LISTED LICHENS IN SWEDEN - HABITATS, THREATS, PROTECTION, AND INDICATOR VALUE IN BOREAL CONIFEROUS FORESTS

The three major threats to lichens in Sweden; forestry, air pollution, and structural changes in the agricultural landscape, are outlined. F orestry is the most serious. The majority of the red-listed lichens in forests are found in productive forests with a continuity in tree gro wth, but nearly 70% of the protected area in Sweden consists of alpine landscapes. Examples of important habitats with red-listed lichens ar e described, e.g. Alnus glutinosa marshes, alvar-vegetation, broad-lea ved deciduous forests and different Picea abies forests. The use of se lected indicator species of lichens and microfungi (mainly red-listed species) in boreal coniferous forests provides information on continui ty in tree growth of an area, and on earlier influences of forestry. E xamples of indicator species for different types of forest are present ed and discussed. In spite of the Swedish 'right of common access', co llecting of lichens is forbidden without permission from the land-owne r. Collecting in protected areas is allowed only with a permit obtaine d from the authorities.