Masur birch produces valuable, decorative, and durable wood. Masur birch wood has traditionally been used for knives, chisels, and other tools that must withstand heavy wear. In the hands of master carpenters, it has also been transformed into furniture, dishes, and decorative objects. Masur birch veneer has been used to furnish banks, offices, luxury homes, ships, and cars.

In the coming years, masur birch will enter the market in significantly larger and more consistent quantities than before. Its recognition and use must be increased, and new high-quality design products developed from it for international markets as well. The Masur Birch Trail sites provide more detailed information on curly birch and the specific characteristics of masur birch forest management.

Cultivating masur birch requires special expertise, a lot of work, and financial investment from the forest owner. Each masur birch tree is nurtured individually. Selective live pruning of branches begins already at the seedling stage to produce high-quality knot-free turning masur birch. Non-curly silver birches must be removed to prevent them from shading the slow-growing masur birches. Thinnings must be done in a timely, light manner and at short intervals. Final felling is usually carried out at 35–50 years of age.

In the Punkaharju research forest, there are over 10 hectares of masur birch stands of various ages and managed in different ways. The oldest of them were established as early as the 1930s.

At the marked sites along the Masur Birch Trail, you can learn about curly birch cultivation from stand establishment to tree live pruning, thinnings, and final felling. The sites also have examples of different curly birch types, as well as curly birches of seed and clonal origin. The Masur Birch Trail presents 17 different themes, which you can see on the adjacent map board. The Masur Birch Trail is not specifically signposted; you can walk from one site to another in any order you wish.