Svartberget research station

Research Station

The Svartberget Research Station was established in 1979 and serves as the heart of the Vindeln Experimental Forests, which include Svartberget and Kulbäcksliden in Vindeln Municipality and Ätnarova in Gällivare Municipality. The land is owned by Sveaskog, and the total area exceeds 6,300 hectares.

The station employs around 15 full-time staff, including field technicians, research engineers, and administrative personnel throughout the year, along with a similar number of seasonal workers.

Svartberget Research Station is located approximately seven kilometers northwest of the town of Vindeln. From Vindeln, take road 363 toward Hällnäs and turn right toward Abborrtjärn, or take the road toward Botsmark and turn left at the sign marked "Svartbergets försökspark." The drive from Umeå takes about one hour.

Areas of Responsibility

The research station oversees the experimental forests at Svartberget, Kulbäcksliden, and Ätnarova, and holds regional responsibility for experimental activities and fieldwork in northernmost Sweden. It also coordinates national research projects within the unit.

Address

SLU, Unit for Field-Based Forest Research
Svartberget Research Station
SE-922 91 Vindeln, Sweden

Experimental Forest

The Svartberget Experimental Forest was established in 1923 on the initiative of Gunnar Schotte, then head of the Swedish Forest Research Institute. It is located about 5 km northeast of Vindeln and comprises 1,015 hectares of forest land and 46 hectares of water, peatland, and other non-productive areas. It is a key site for field research in forestry and environmental sciences. The area ranges in elevation from 160 to 320 meters above sea level. The dominant forest type is mixed coniferous, with Scots pine and Norway spruce being the most common species.

Climate and Environmental Conditions

Svartberget is situated in a transitional climate zone between the coastal region and the inland. The site hosts a climate station that measures air and soil temperature, precipitation, snow depth, and global radiation. Permanent monitoring stations are also in place to measure runoff and water chemistry. Phenological observations are carefully documented to better understand how climate affects local ecosystems.

Svartberget Experimental Forest plays an important role in forestry research, with a long-standing focus on forest stands and ecosystem changes. By combining diverse research methods and detailed climate monitoring, the site contributes to a deeper understanding of forest dynamics and the effects of climate on northern Swedish ecosystems.