Grönlands växtvärld

• Flora, vegetation and land-use history of Greenland are briefly described. The species-poor flora is Arctic. Thirteen endemic taxa may have survived the glacial period on Greenland.The latitudinal vegetation zones extend from High Arctic deserts to Low Arctic heaths with erect shrubs. A small area in the SW is Subarctic with elfin forests and meadows. A corresponding altitudinal zonation is also described.Greenland was colonised 1000 years ago by both Inuits and Norse settlers. The latter practised animal husbandry in the Subarctic SW. Hay-making was extensive on fertilized and irrigated fields. Extensive deforestation and land degradation took place, until the Norse population disappeared in the 15th century. It is argued that the decreasing population on Iceland during late medieval times made it possible for the Greenlandic Norse to move there. Modern sheep holdings have again caused land degradation. Notes on small-scale forest plantation and on ethnobotany are given.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

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