Scientific publications

Curly birch (Betula pendula var. carelica) is one of the most peculiar and rarest trees in the whole of North and Central Europe. In Estonia the species occurs in natural conditions, mainly in West, North-West and North Estonia, as well as on maritime islands. As to forms of its growth and stem, it may have the shape of a bush or a low tree. On its trunk and branches there are characteristic bumps or swellings. Due to this valuable timber and beautiful texture but also its rare existence in nature, the curly birch is worth growing in plantations. During recent decades there are thousands hectares of abandoned agricultural grasslands, pastures and fields that will naturally regenerate with deciduous trees having little value in Estonian timber market. In these areas is reasonable to cultivate curly birch. The first experimental plantations of the curly birch were started in 1970s. After the foundation of Estonian Curly Birch Society in 2000 both a good knowledge of the species and the number of curly birch artificial stands grew immensely. According to the questionnaire approximately 250–500 ha of curly birch plantations, which are scattered all over Estonia, have been started during the recent decade.