N. Central-East Europe
"Norway spruce seedlings are highly preferred winter browse for snowshoe hares in Quebec. Browsing of seedlings and saplings in plantations can be intense, as young plantations form ideal winter habitat for snowshoe hares. Norway spruce is not a preferred browse for moose in Scandinavia; young and middle-aged stands of Scotch pine form habitat preferred by moose over mature Scotch pine-Norway spruce forests and bogs. In Europe, red deer strip the bark of Norway spruce. Other animals browse spruce foliage but it is not a highly preferred food source for either wildlife or domestic animals. Norway spruce provides important winter cover for a number of species of wildlife . Grouse eat spruce leaves and the seeds are consumed by a number of birds and small mammals.
Norway spruce nursery stock is of extremely low preference to white-tailed deer when compared with other ornamental species, including both conifers and hardwoods." [1]
"Norway spruce has been planted for windbreaks and shelterbelts in western prairies, although it grows better in more humid environments . It is recommended for shelterbelt plantings in humid, severe-winter regions. Norway spruce is widely planted for Christmas trees and as an ornamental.
Norway spruce roots can be used as grafting stock for white spruce (Picea glauca).
Norway spruce resin has been used to make Burgundy pitch, and the twigs used to make Swiss turpentine. The twigs and needles were used to make antiscorbutic and diuretic beverages." [1]
"Norway spruce wood is strong, soft, straight- and fine-grained, and easily worked. It is not durable in contact with soil. It is widely used for construction, pulp, furniture, and musical instruments . Norway spruce is one of the most common and economically important coniferous species in Europe and Scandinavia. In Maine, thinned material and standing dead Norway spruce produced pulp of good strength as reported in a study of the pulp potential of seven softwoods.
Norway spruce was planted on surface mine spoils in Indiana from 1928 to the 1960's. It tolerates acidic soils but is not well suited for dry or nutrient deficient soils." [1]
[1] Sullivan, Janet. 1994. Picea abies. In: Fire Effects Information System,. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/picabi/all.html.
