Increased area of notified fellings in February

Nyhet | Statistik - 17 March 2026

February saw an increase in the area notified or applied for felling in February of 1 percent, compared to 2025. The area regarding applications for permits for felling in montane forests decreased 5 percent, compared to the same month last year.

Experience has shown that statistics regarding notifications and applications can vary from month to month due to the forestry planning of various stakeholders. It is therefore important to be careful when analyzing the monthly data and to not draw conclusions about the planned felling.

The area of received notifications and applications for permits for felling was 21,203 hectares in February, which was 1 percent more, compared to February 2025. Of this area, applications for permits for felling of montane forests represented 489 hectares, compared with 514 hectares in the same month last year.

Compared to the average area of notifications and applications for the country in February over the previous five years, this is an increase of 11 percent. Compared to the average area in February for the previous ten years, this is an increase of 19 percent.

Notifications and applications on the regional level in February

The area of notifications and applications increased in Southern Norrland and in Svealand. In Northern Norrland and in Götaland the area decreased, compared to the same month last year.

• Northern Norrland – decrease of 1,160 hectares (-32 percent)
• Southern Norrland – increase of 4,092 hectares (+59 percent)
• Svealand – increase of 817 hectares (+20 percent)
• Götaland – decrease of 3,551 hectares (-56 percent)

A 17 percent increase in the area covered by notifications and applications so far this year

From January to February, the area of notifications and applications for permits for felling was 47,222 hectares, which is an increase of 17 percent compared to the same period last year. In Southern Norrland the area notified and applied for has increased by 78 percent and in Svealand by 52 percent. In Northern Norrland the area notified and applied for has decreased by 25 percent and in Götaland by 48 percent. On regional level, the area has decreased in all counties except Dalarna and Gävleborg counties.

The average area of notifications and applications for the country as a whole shows an increase by 29 percent, compared the corresponding period in the preceding five-year period. Compared to the corresponding period for the previous ten years, this is an increase of 30 percent.

So far this year, the area concerning applications for permits for felling of montane forests is 622 hectares, for the corresponding period last year the area was 1,032 hectares.

Notifications in counties affected by the storm “Johannes”

On December 27, 2025, Sweden was affected by the storm Johannes. Throughout the spring, the Swedish Forestry Agency will compare statistics regarding received notifications with average for the previous five years. So far, larger areas than normal have been notified for felling in Dalarna and Gävleborg counties, which explains the increase in Södra Norrland and Svealand.

Explanation

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

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

Please note that the monthly statistics are preliminary and will be final approximately two months after they are published.

The statistics are part of the Official statistics of Sweden.

We publish all results in our statistical database.