Decrease in notifications for final felling in 2022

Nyhet | Statistik - 21 February 2023

Notifications for final felling decreased by 15 percent in 2022. The area in applications for permits for final felling of montane forest decreased by 57 percent to 5,707 hectares.

Forest owners notified and applied for final felling over 240,881 hectares of forest which is a decrease of 15 percent in comparison to 2021.

The decreased area in montane forests should be seen in comparison with the last two years. Historically, however, the area applied for is high, which is likely to be an effect of the Land and Environmental Court's ruling in May 2020. The ruling determined that forest owners who have been denied a permit for felling are entitled to compensation from the state, corresponding to 125 percent of the forest's market value.

Notification of final felling (according to Section 14 of the Forestry Act)

In 2022, the Swedish Forest Agency received notifications for final felling according to Section 14 of the Forestry Act, on 228,087 hectares of productive forest land. This is a decrease of 15 percent compared to 2021 and a decrease in 18 of 21 counties.

Change in area notified for final felling per region:

• Northern Norrland – decrease by 18 percent
• Southern Norrland – decrease by 4 percent.
• Svealand – decrease by 12 percent.
• Götaland – decrease by 25 percent.

The average area in notifications of final felling in 2022 was 3,9 hectares, which is slightly less than average for the last ten years.

Permits for felling in valuable broad-leaved forest

In 2022, the area of the application for permits for final felling of valuable broad-leaved forest decreased by 24 percent to 915 hectares. This means roughly the same level as 2020 but 30 percent lower than the average for the ten-year period 2012–2021.

Felling for purposes other than wood production

In 2022, forest owners notified and applied for felling on 6,161 hectares of productive forest land for purposes other than timber production. Of this, the majority (5,837 hectares) was notified felling according to Section 14 of the Forestry Act, 265 hectares in montane forests and 59 hectares in valuable broad-leaved forest. Compared with last year, the notified area decreased by 12 percent and the area applied for in valuable broad-leaved forest by 32 percent. In montane forests the area applied for increased by 168 percent compared to 2021.

Explanation

The increased or decreased area in notifications and applications for permits for final felling does not necessarily mean that the area of actual final felling has increased or decreased to the same extent.

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