Facts about the survey Notified areas of final felling
The statistics present annual data on the area and number of notifications of final felling and applications for final felling permits. It is important to note that the statistics do not include actual harvested areas.
Notifications of final felling are reported by county, by region and for Sweden as a whole. However, notifications and applications for felling for purposes other than timber production, and applications for permits for regeneration felling in valuable broadleaved forests, are reported only for the whole country. The notified area for final felling is reported for normal forest and montane forest by the owner classes Individual owners and Other owners. Notifications of final felling in normal forest are also reported by size class.
The statistics do not include the area actual harvested area. Forest owners do not necessarily fell all areas that they notify, and areas smaller than 0.5 hectares do not need to be reported to the Swedish Forest Agency.
Notification of regeneration felling
Forest owners are obliged to notify the Swedish Forest Agency of regeneration felling covering 0.5 hectares or more. The notification must be submitted at least six weeks before the felling begins. In special cases, the Swedish Forest Agency may allow felling to begin earlier. The notification is valid for five years.
Forest owners must also notify fellings when the forest has been damaged or when the forest condition is clearly unsatisfactory. Notification is also required in some cases when forest land is used for purposes other than timber production. Clearing and thinning that promote the development of the forest do not need to be notified.
When the Swedish Forest Agency receives a notification or application, we check that the forest owner intends to comply with the rules in forestry legislation. We also assess whether there are environmental or cultural values that need to be protected in the area. Sometimes the review leads to further contact with the forest owner. This may involve a consultation under the Environmental Code, written guidance on the requirements of the Forestry Act or a decision on how the forest owner must take environmental considerations when felling. The review may also result in a decision that the felling is not allowed.
Harvesting permit
In montane forests and in valuable broadleaved forests, forest owners must apply for a permit for felling, even for areas smaller than 0.5 hectares. Forms of felling that require a permit include regeneration felling, selective felling in montane forest and felling for purposes other than timber production. A permit is not required for clearing and thinning that promote the development of the forest.
The forest owner or their representative must apply for a felling permit well before the planned felling. The Swedish Forest Agency examines the application and issues a decision (permit or rejection). Felling may not begin until this decision has been issued. As a rule, a permit is valid for five years.
Definitions and explanations
Normal forest according to Section 14 of the Forestry Act
Normal forest refers to land that is suitable for timber production and not used to a significant extent for other purposes.
Montane forest according to Section 15 of the Forestry Act
The montane border is an administrative boundary used in forestry to define montane areas with harsh climatic conditions. It separates montane forest from other forest land. In Sweden, the montane forest forms a continuous belt along the mountain range from Dalarna County to Norrbotten County. The area also includes several forest enclaves on mountains and ridges east of the main boundary in the counties of Norrbotten and Västerbotten. The boundary of montane forest is defined in the Ordinance on the Boundaries of Montane Forests (SKSFS 1991:3).
Broadleaved forest according to Section 27 of the Forestry Act
Broadleaved forest is defined as a stand consisting of at least 70 percent valuable broadleaved trees, of which at least 50 percent are noble deciduous species, and covering an area of at least 0.5 hectares. Noble deciduous trees include elm, ash, hornbeam, beech, oak, sweet cherry, lime and maple.
Purpose other than wood production
The statistics include only some fellings conducted for purposes other than wood production. This is because no notification is required for the felling of areas that are subject to review under legislation other than the Forestry Act. Examples include power lines, roads other than forest roads, railways, residential buildings, industrial areas, quarries, golf courses and ski resorts.
A notification is also not required for felling for purposes other than timber production within detailed development plans or within defence areas.
Individual owners
Natural persons, estates of deceased persons and companies that are not limited liability companies. This category also includes a small proportion of areas where the owner is unknown.
Other owners
State, state-owned limited liability companies, other general owners, privately owned limited liability companies and other private owners.
Reliability of the statistics
The reliability of the statistics depends on the quality of the administrative register from which the figures are derived. Overall reliability is considered good.
In addition to the annual statistics, the Swedish Forest Agency publishes preliminary monthly statistics during the year. According to the current revision policy, these monthly statistics are revised three months after publication.
The annual statistics published the following year are based on definitive register data. For this reason, the sum of the monthly statistics may differ from the annual statistics. In such cases, the annual statistics are considered the most accurate.