Musturi Reserve covers 59 ha of which only 23 ha are virgin forest¹, the rest consisting of drained bog, former managed forest and a small lake called Musturinlammi at the southwestern corner. The primeval forest does not extend to the lake but is mostly located in a belt stretching from the reserve’s central northern part to its southeastern corner. There is also a small old-growth patch at the western end of the reserve. The virgin forest is located at an elevation of 155–175 m. Average annual temperature is approx. 5°C and precipitation approx. 700 mm ².

The old-growth is mostly fine Norway spruce (Picea abies) dominated dense and heavily wooded mesic forest, resembling Musta-Kotinen Forest. Like Musta-Kotinen, Musturi also has abundant large common aspen (Populus tremula). Old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) are quite common, too. Silver (Betula pendula) and downy birch (B. pubescens) are rather scarce. The saplings of European rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) are quite abundant but rowan does not reach tree dimensions. The tallest trees are over 30 m tall. Even aspen reaches a height of at least 32 m (photo right). European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) has killed some spruce, creating gaps in the forest. Dead wood is plentiful. The understory is dominated by bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and mosses.

A narrow, short path to the virgin forest’s southeastern corner starts at the forestry road east of the reserve. The path has been marked on the base map and begins at the point where there is a widening on the opposite side of the road. Soon after reaching the primeval forest, the path disappears into the undergrowth. Other human traces are non-existent apart from few research markings. Walking is not very easy due to moss-covered boulders and fallen trees. In the second-growth part of the Musturi, walking is even more difficult due to the dense sapling stands. Although the reserve, and particularly the old-growth forest, is small, its remoteness makes it quiet: distant road noise can only rarely be heard in Musturi.

KR

References:

1. https://www.ymparisto.fi/fi/luonto-vesistot-ja-meri/luonnon-monimuotoisuus/suojelu-ennallistaminen-ja-luonnonhoito/natura-2000-alueet/musturi
2. https://en.climate-data.org/