New statistics on environmental consideration

Nyhet | Statistik - 24 March 2026

The average proportion of forest land area left as environmental consideration areas after a regeneration felling is 8.5 percent. The proportion of the environmental consideration areas which consists of areas of high or very high conservation value is 3.8 percent while the remaining 4.7 percent consists of ordinary conservation value. On average, approximately 10.5 conservation trees are left on the felled area. The average volume of dead wood left on the felled area amounts to 7.5 cubic metres per hectare.

The new statistics, which include a classification of consideration areas by conservation value, as well as estimates of consideration trees, dead wood and crossings over watercourses, complement previous statistics published by Swedish Forest Agency in December. The aim is to provide more comprehensive statistics related to environmental consideration. It is important to note that the results are based on a new inventory method, which means that comparisons over time should be made with caution.

More comprehensive statistics on environmental consideration

Environmental consideration in regeneration felling includes various types of structures that are left in the forest after felling. This involves both setting aside smaller areas that remain untouched (consideration areas) and preserving individual trees, dead wood and edge zones. The statistics show how consideration is distributed among different types of areas and structures, as well as how the extent varies between different felling sites and ownership categories. The statistics for environmental consideration also include other forest management related measures, such as crossings over watercourses and the extraction of logging residues (branches and tops).

Consideration areas in regeneration felling

On average, consideration areas account for 8.5 percent of the area subject to regeneration felling. At the same time, consideration varies between different felling sites. In some areas, there are no consideration areas, while other sites have a larger proportion.

Differences also occur between different ownership classes, with individual owners leaving an average of 6.6 percent and other owners leaving 10.7 percent of the area subject to regeneration felling.

Consideration areas consist of several different types of areas that serve various functions in the forest landscape. Of the total consideration areas of 8.5 percent, three types of consideration have been distinguished:

• approximately 2 percent are edge zones along water
• approximately 2.9 percent are edge zones along other landuses such are wetlands or unproductive areas
• approximately 3.6 percent are other types of consideration area.

Within all types of consideration areas, almost half of the areas consists of  areas with high or very high conservation values.

Living trees and dead wood left as consideration on the felled area

In addition to consideration areas, individual trees and dead wood are also left on the regeneration felling area. These structures are important for biodiversity and contribute to variation in managed forests.

On average, 10.5 conservation trees per hectare are left on the felled area. Along with this, the volume of dead wood left on the felled area is 7.5 cubic metres.

The most common tree species among the conservation trees are Scots pine and birch. On average, 1.3 trees per hectare with a diameter of at least 45 cm are left on the felled area. There are differences between ownership classes and individual owners leave 1.8 trees per hectare and other owners leave 0.7 trees per hectare larger than 45 cm.

Consideration for aquatic environments and damage at water crossings

In regeneration felling next to water, edge zones have been left along just under 70 percent of the shoreline length. This means that just over 30 percent of the shoreline length lacks an edge zone. Where an edge zone has been left, the average width is approximately 15 metres. Individual owners have a larger proportion of shoreline without edge zones than other owners, 37 and 25 percent respectively.

During regeneration felling, machinery sometimes crosses watercourses either during the felling or when transporting timber across the terrain. These crossings can be constructed and designed in different ways, for example as bridges, crossings with laid timber (log crossing), or as crossings where machines drive directly over the streambed (streambed crossing).

The results show that streambed crossings are the most common type of crossing with 37 percent, followed by log crossings and bridges, each accounting for approximately one fourth. For a smaller proportion of the crossings, the type could not be determined.

The proportion of observed damage varies between types of crossings. For streambed crossings where machines drive directly over the streambed, damage occurs in approximately 86 percent of the cases. The corresponding proportion for bridge crossings is approximately 17 percent.

Logging residues

The extraction of logging residues, often referred to as GROT (branches and tops) as an energy assortment, occurs in approximately 43 percent of the area subject to regeneration felling. There are regional differences, and extraction of logging residues is more common in the south than in northern Sweden. In Götaland there is extraction or preparation for extraction in 78 percent of the regeneration felling area while the corresponding proportion in Norra Norrland is approximately 5 percent.

Explanation

Shoreline refers to the length (area) where land meets the sea, a lake or a watercourse.

Consideration area refers to an area that is left wholly or partly undisturbed during regeneration felling to preserve natural values. A consideration area must be located on productive forest land that has reached the minimum age for final felling and must either border on or be surrounded by the felled area. To be included in the inventory, the area must be at least 100 square metres and no more than 1 hectare, with certain exceptions for elongated areas.

Edge zone refers to a continuous zone of trees and vegetation left next to, for example, water, wetlands or other land types. Edge zones along water include lakes, seas and watercourses. Ditches are included in the inventory but are not presented in all results.

Conservation trees refer to trees left on the felled area, either as individual trees or in groups, to contribute to biodiversity and structural diversity.

Dead wood includes both standing dead trees, logsand snags, and constitutes an important habitat for many species.

Crossing refers to a passage over a watercourse in connection with felling operations. Crossings may consist of bridges, crossings with laid timber (log crossing), or crossings where machines drive directly over the streambed (streambed crossing).

The statistics are a part of Sweden's official statistics. All results can be found in our Statistical database.