Land-use history
Approximately 25% of the KCS has been protected for research since 1922, whereas the ownership of the remaining area is divided among private individuals and forest companies. Currently, forest covers 87% of the KCS and is dominated by Scots pine (Pinus Sylvestris ) (63%) and Norway spruce (Picea Abies ) (26%) with an understory of ericaceous shrubs, mostly bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus ) and lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea ) on moss-mats ofHylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi .Sphagnum spp. together with sparse coverage of sedges and dwarf shrubs dominate on open wetlands, which primarily can be categorized as acidic, oligotrophic, and minerogenic mires.
KCS has experienced relatively low levels of direct human influence. The current population of the area is approximately 1.2 people per km2. Historically, the human population was even lower and only hunting, fishing, and reindeer herding occurred until ca 1750 when the first village settlements were established. Prior to the early 1900’s, mires constituted a major source of livelihood for farmers. In the KCS, this meant that up to 22% of the original mire area was used for hay harvest on mire meadows (Norstedt et al., in review), whereas only 3% were drained for more modern agriculture. Presently, only 1% of the original peatland areas are still used for agricultural purpose. Beginning around 1900, mires were drained to enhance forest wood production. As a consequence, about 40% of the original mire area is currently forested (Norstedt et al., in review). In addition, approximately 162 km (Hasselquist et al. 2020) of forest drainage ditches can be found within the KCS area, which can be compared with an approximately 180 km of naturally permanent streams (Ågren et al. 2015). Prior to the 1940s, selective cutting was the primary method used in forestry. Later, rotation forestry grew to dominate, involving mostly clear-cutting with subsequent planting of conifers (Norstedt & Laudon 2019).