The history of forestry drainage in Kosta national forest region

Drainage of wetlands in Sweden has been ongoing during a long time in history, with the primary aim to increase the production in forest and agriculture land. The overall purpose with this study is to analyse the history and the consequences of forestry drainage in Kosta national forest region, a forest management area in southern Sweden owned by the state. The drainage of the forest land in Kosta national forest region started in the late 1890’s, around this time the region had around 1 700 hectares wetlands and constituted therefore a suitable area for extensive drainage. Altogether, more than 180 000 meters were drained within Kosta national forest region between the years of 1900 and 1970. The work was made by hand until the 1950’s. Between 1952- 1958 the dynamite had a short breakthrough as a drainage method, before it was replaced by the excavator. A closer study has been made in Hampmossen in Kosta national forest region, that was drained in the 1930’s. The area is 43 hectares and has more than 7 000 meters of ditches. Today, most of the area is productive forest land, and some parts are also protected for nature conservation. The results on Hampmossen shows that the goal of higher production and more productive forest land has been reached in many ways. But considerable areas have also been drained without the desired results and are today areas of low production