Continued decrease in area of forest notified for final felling

Nyhet | Statistik - 12 September 2022

In August 2022 the area covered by notifications and applications for permits of final felling was down by 17 percent compared with August 2021, according to new statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency. The area covered by applications in montane forests was 127 percent larger than August last year.

The total area covered by applications and notifications in August for the whole country amounted to 21,603 hectares, which was 17 percent less than in August 2021. Of this area, applications for permits for final felling of montane forest amounted to 1117 hectares, which was 127 percent more than the same month last year.

At county level, the notified and applied area decreased in 17 of 21 counties

The largest decreases in August are in Gotland and Blekinge counties, where the decreases are 98 and 60 percent, respectively, compared to August 2021. In a further nine counties, the decreases were over 26 percent. In Jämtland county, however, the area in notifications and applications increased by 51 percent, compared to August 2021.

In total, the area notified and applied for final felling in August decreased by 37 percent in Götaland compared with August last year. In Svealand and Northern Norrland, the area decreased by 27 and 20 percent, respectively. In Southern Norrland, on the other hand, there was an increase by 26 percent.

Compared with the average area covered by notifications and applications for the whole country in August over the past five years, the decrease is 16 percent. Compared with the last ten years, the decrease is 14 percent.

So far this year, the area covered by notifications and applications has decreased by 20 percent

During January to August, notifications, and applications for permits for final felling have decreased by 20 percent compared with the same period last year. Despite of the increased area in august, applications for permits for final felling of montane forests have decreased by 46 percent, so far this year.

In Götaland, the notified and applied area has decreased by 31 percent and in Northern Norrland by 25 percent. In Svealand and in Southern Norrland the area covered by notifications and applications have decreased by 12 and 10 percent respectively, compared with the first eight months of the year 2021.

Compared with the average area covered by notifications and applications for the whole country the first eight months of the year over the past five years, the decrease is 14 percent. Compared with the last ten years, the decrease is 12 percent.

Explanation

The decreased area in notifications and applications for permits for final felling does not necessarily mean that the area of actual final felling is decreased to the same extent. As regards the development of the actual final felling, the Swedish Forestry Agency will publish a forecast for this year's final felling on 27 September.

Statistics refer to total notifications and applications for permission on productive forest land for final felling in montane forest and valuable broad-leaved forest.