Sweden is a forest nation
Forests are important to Sweden in several ways. Two thirds of the country’s land surface – or some 28 million hectares - is covered by different types of forests. Of this, some 23 million hectares is considered productive forests. The forest sector’s importance to the national economy is significant. Today, nearly 60 000 persons are directly employed in the country’s forest sector and Sweden is the world’s second largest exporter of pulp, paper and sawn wood products combined. More than 300 000 private individuals own forest land themselves. Family-owned forests represent around 50% of the total forest area and some 60% of the total annual yield. For many other people, the country’s forests are also important - for hunting, for picking berries and mushrooms, for recreation and contemplation.
Forests play a key-role in the development of a sustainable society
Forests also play a central role in sustainable development. Wood fiber as a raw material is renewable, recyclable and neutral when it comes to emissions of carbon dioxide contributing to climate change. Consequently, forests are gaining increasing attention as a resource in relation to ambitions to mitigate climate change and develop more resource- and energy-efficient societies. The Swedish forest industry’s vision is to be a driver in the development of a so called biobased economy, that is, an economy in which fossil raw material is replaced with renewable and recyclable raw materials such as wood fiber. At the same time, a sustainable society is dependent upon well-functioning forest ecosystems which are able to provide us with services such as climate- and water cycle regulation, and recreational experiences. Therefore, these so called forest eco-system services have to be sustained as well.
Forests shall be managed sustainably to provide various benefits
The basic idea in Swedish forest policy and forestry-model is that forests shall be managed to provide economic, ecologic, as well as social benefits. Efficient and sustainable production of wood for different end-uses shall go hand in hand with preservation of valuable ecological- and socio-cultural values. In Sweden, the multi-functional role of forests is safeguarded through regulations on the use of forests across the entire forest area. In addition, land with significant ecological - or other values is protected or the management of such land is adapted.
The standing volume in Swedish forests is increasing
Exploitation of forest resources has a very long history in Sweden. In earlier times, many forests were overexploited for purposes like logging for domestic timber and fuelwood use, cattle grazing, charcoal production for the mining industry, and latterly logging for sawmill- and pulp industries. By the end of the nineteenth century, large areas of forest had actually been depleted. In order to come to terms with this situation, the Swedish Parliament passed the first Forestry Act in 1903, containing provisions which required land owners to replant after forest felling. The trend of depletion was thus reversed. Since the 1920’s (when forest surveys were first initiated), the total standing volume has increased significantly.
The film explains how Swedish forestry is governed to be sustainable. Copyright: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
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Forest debate: Greenpeace does not demand total ban on clearcutting – which is just one of the 15 logging methods in Finnish state forestsPublicerad: Monday, 5 November, 2018 - 08:44Etiketter: ForestryThe Finnish state forest company Metsähallitus chooses the logging method on the basis of what is planned for each forest stand and of its specific features. Greenpeace wants continuous-cover silviculture to be the dominant method. / Finnish Forest AssociationLäs mer
Publicerad: Friday, 19 October, 2018 - 08:23Etiketter: ForestryThe Federal Government has foreshadowed a tough approach towards retailers who refuse to sell goods certified under the internationally recognised Australian Forestry Standard (AFS). / TimberbizLäs mer
Publicerad: Friday, 19 October, 2018 - 08:20Etiketter: ForestryThe proportion of regeneration area which is assessed and approved under the Forestry Act (6§) shows continued positive development. In the last three-year average during the period 2015/2016-2017/2018 results indicate that the regeneration area has improved and reached 91 percent approved area, which is the highest level since the inventory started Also, the proportion of regeneration area is estimated to exceeds the Forestry Act's requirement regarding the number of main plants and share of degree of stand blanks has steadily increased in recent years. / The Swedish Forest AgencyLäs mer