Anthropogenic influence on the natural vegetation in Kurtna lake district (NOrth-East Estonia)

Abstract

The Kurtna Lake District is a unique area in the region of NE Estonian industrial landscapes. Around 40 lakes, numerous bogs and abundant forests are located there on 30 ha. The last decade have witnessed considerable negative influence of human activities in this area. The ashes from electric power stations have altered the natural vegetative cover. To determine the impact of long-term human activity, complex palaeobotanical studies of lake sediments were carried out in the region. The results were reconstruct the natural development of vegetation 8000, 5000, 3500 years ago and to compare it with the present one.