Stamps of Sweden: Species Threatened Habitats (1989)

Sweden’s worldwide renown for its varied, well-preserved landscape has been enhaced and increased by a number of stamps, such as these six, which portray species in threatened habitats.

For example, parts of mountain forests must be protected because they are vital for the presrvation of a wealth of plant and animal species, as are mixed wooded area populated by conifers and deciduous trees.

Two species, which inhabit mountain forests are the Ural owl (Strix uralensis), which primarily frequents central and northern Sweden areas containing decaying trees, and the wolverine (Gulo ghulo) from Harjedalen up to northern Lapland. The red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva) prefers old deciduoous trees in dense, untouched mixed woods.

With grazing of shore meadows continuing to diminish, the resulting underrgrowth adversely affects many animals and birds. And, comprehensive damage is a threat to marshlands, whose landscape is one of the richest in species in Sweden.

The European green tree frog (Hyla arborea) and the dunlin (Calidris alpina-schinzii) live in shore meadows. The rare tree frog is found only in Skane. The scarce dunlin, which builds its nest in low tufts of grass, is seen from Bohualan and Uppland. The lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopus minor) builds its nest in decaying birch trunks in the marshy woods. Released January 31, 1989.