Norway planted millions of North American Sitka spruce after the 1950s to expand timber production along its windswept coast, but scientists now say the trees are invading ancient coastal heathlands, shading out native vegetation that has been maintained for more than 5,000 years

Historic coastal heathlands in Western Norway are disappearing under Sitka spruce plantations. Millions of North American Sitka spruce trees were planted after the 1950s for timber production. A study found that passive recovery after clear-felling was slow and insufficient for restoration. Sitka spruce regenerated rapidly from seed, requiring constant sapling removal by land managers. Restoring these vital ecosystems demands significant time, patience, and active intervention.