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Man's use of birch—past and present

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

Roger Lines
Roger Lines
Affiliation:
Forestry Commission, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY
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Synopsis

Man has found a diversity of uses for birch at least since Mesolithic times. In the mediaeval period, it was used for all kinds of domestic and agricultural purposes and it is remarkable how early its beneficial effects in silviculture were appreciated. Similarly, its amenity value has been appreciated for centuries in the rural scene and today it is employed in urban improvement too. Its importance for fuel and charcoal goes back into the distant past. Its bark is unique, with a range of end products from trinket boxes in northern Europe to large canoes in Canada. The trade in birch products is very large in eastern North America, while in Finland the plywood industry is also important. Birch will continue to play a significant role in British Forestry, both as a nurse species and as the main amenity species for poor and exposed sites.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 85 , Issue 1-2: Birches , 1984 , pp. 203 - 213
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1984

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