Forest seedlings delivered for planting
Here you find statistics on forest seedlings delivered for planting. We publish the results by tree species, method of production and by origin of seedlings and use of plant protection.
On a yearly basis since 1998 the Swedish Forest Agency make a survey about produced seedlings for usage in Sweden. The questionnaire is sent to all companies registered at the Swedish Forest Agency as producers or dealers with seedlings. Forest seedlings delivered for planting refers to the plants that have been delivered for use (planting) in Sweden.
Decrease in forest seedlings delivered for planting in 2024
In 2024, 405 million forest seedlings were delivered, which is a decrease of 26 million (6 percent) from 2023.
The amount of delivered seedlings of Scots pine has increased steadily for many years. In 2024 delivered seedlings of Scots pine was 219 million, which was a decrease of 17 million seedlings (7 percent), compared to 2023. The number of delivered seedlings of Norway spruce was just over 166 million in 2024, which is a decrease by 10 million compared to 2023.
Delivered seedlings of birch (3,8 million) increased by 19 percent, compared to 2023. Delivered seedlings of birch has increased steadily since 2017 and the number is now more than three times as large as then. After declining for a couple of years, delivered seedlings of other broadleaf species (1.6 million) increased by 13 percent compared to 2023.
The amount of delivered seedlings of Larch and Sitka spruce decreased by 10 and 9 percent respectively, compared to 2023. However, none of these tree species make up more than 1.1 percent of the total quantity of delivered seedlings in 2024. Delivered seedlings of other coniferous species increased by 3 percent, compared to 2023.
Delivered seedlings of Lodgepole pine increased by almost 1 million plants (5 percent) in 2024 compared to 2023.
In 2020, Scots pine (54.1 percent) took over the position from Norway spruce (41.1 percent) as the most common tree species among delivered forest plants. Delivered seedlings of Norway spruce and Scots pine together constitute 96 percent of the total number of delivered forest seedlings for planting. Delivered seedlings of Lodgepole pine represent 2.1 percent and larch 1.0 percent. Sitka spruce, birch and seedlings of other conifers and broadleaf species each make up less than 1 percent of the number of delivered forest seedlings.
However, the above-mentioned proportions do not indicate how the tree species are distributed in the future forest. For example, a significant part of Scots pine and almost all birch and most of other broadleaf trees in the forest have been rejuvenated naturally.
Container-rooted dominates method of production
Container-rooted is the dominant method of production for forest seedlings. In 2024, container-rooted seedlings accounted for 90 percent of all delivered forest seedlings. Bare-rooted seedlings amounted to 6 percent.
From 2019, a new category called hybrid seedling can be reported as method of production. In 2024, a total of 4 percent of delivered forest seedlings were produced as hybrid seedlings.
Scots Pine and Lodgepole pine are almost exclusively produced as container-rooted seedlings. The proportion of Norway spruce seedlings that were produced using container-rooted method of production in 2024 was 80 percent.
Among conifers, 92 percent of other conifers are produced as bare root (including hybrid seedlings), 100 percent of Sitka spruce, 50 percent of larch, 01 percent of Norway spruce and less than 0.5 percent of Scots pine. In 2024, 88 percent of other broadleaved trees and 48 percent of birch were produced as bare-rooted seedlings.
Propagation methods for forest plants
As of 2019, it is reported whether delivered forest plants have been propagated from seed or propagated vegetatively. Overall, delivered seedlings of conifers are propagated from seed to almost 100 percent and the vegetatively propagated proportion is very small.
Vegetative propagation of delivered seedlings is mainly applied to broad-leaved tree species. In 2024, 10 percent of the delivered seedlings of broad-leaved trees were vegetatively propagated. Of these, mainly hybrid aspen and poplar are propagated vegetatively.
Mechanical protection of seedlings larger than unprotected
The proportion of seedlings that are delivered with some form of protection against beetles (mechanical or chemical) has increased since 2016. In 2024, 72, 46 and 22 percent of the delivered seedlings of Norway spruce, Scots pine and Lodgepole pine respectively were equipped with beetle protection. The use of insecticides decreased to 1 percent of the delivered seedlings of Norway spruce and 1 percent of the delivered seedlings of Scots pine.
In 2024 the proportion of Norway spruce, Scots pine and lodgepole pine seedlings with protection against insects was 72, 46 and 22 percent respectively. The proportion of coniferous seedlings delivered with some sort of protection against insects (mechanical) has increased steadily, from 27 percent in 2016 to 54 percent in 2024. During the same period, the proportion of insecticide-treated seedlings has decreased from 18 to 2 percent while the proportion of plants without treatment has decreased from 55 percent in 2016 to 44 percent in 2024. It is not possible to use these statistics to distinguish where in the country protected and unprotected plants are used.
Mainly Swedish origin for seedlings
Seeds are divided into seeds from forest stands and plantation seeds from specially designed seed plantations (seed farms).
The majority (88 percent) of the delivered forest seedlings in 2024 came from plantation seed from Swedish seed plantations. Seeds from Swedish and foreign forest stands accounted for 1 and 2 percent, respectively. Foreign plantation seed accounted for 8 percent of the origin of the delivered forest seedlings.
The use of seed from forest stands has decreased and the use of plantation seed has increased since origin was included in the survey. Regarding tree species, Scots pine and Lodgepole pine mainly originated from plantation seeds with Swedish origin (by 96 and 99 percent).
Of the delivered seedlings of Norway spruce, 82 percent came from Swedish seed plantations, which is unchanged compared to 2023. In 2024, 4 percent of the delivered seedlings of Norway spruce originated from seeds from foreign forest stands and 13 percent from foreign plantation seed, to be compared with 6 and 11 percent respectively in 2023.
The use of plantation seed of foreign origin has decreased for larch in recent years. For Sitka spruce and other conifers Swedish plantation seed and foreign stock seed are used to a greater extent. The use has increased in comparison to 2023 to 93 and 63 percent respectively.
Of the delivered seedlings of birch in 2024, 30 percent came from plantation seed with Swedish origin and 45 percent had foreign origin. The proportion of birch from Swedish seed plantations decreased from 38 and 56 percent respectively in 2023. As for other broad-leaved trees, 40 percent originated from foreign seed, which is an increase from 38 percent in 2023. Plants that originated from Swedish and foreign plantation seed accounted for 9 and 21 percent respectively of the plants of other broad-leaved trees.
Forest seedlings and seeds imported to Sweden in 2023
The figures below are based on data from 2004 until 2022. The two-year backlog is a consequence of the Swedish Forestry Agency's registration of the import of seedlings and seeds. These data are not part of the official statistics on delivered forest seedlings.
Within the EU, there is free trade for forest seedlings and seeds. However, there is an obligation to notify the import and export of seedlings and seeds, to the Swedish Forestry Agency. The import of forest seedlings and seeds from countries outside the EU is permitted for certain countries, such as Norway. For these countries there is an obligation regarding both a notification as well as a permission.
Seedlings and seeds brought into Sweden from other countries can, but do not have to, have their origin in the sending country. A significant part of imported material is of Swedish origin, but some step in the production has taken place in another country.
Import of seedlings
In 2023, 50.5 million seedlings were brought into Sweden from other countries. This means that approximately 12 percent of the seedlings delivered in 2023 (431 million plants in total) were at least partially produced outside Sweden. However, it is unclear whether the plants were considered delivered in the same year as they were imported.
In 2023, most seedlings were brought to Sweden from the Nordic and the Baltic countries (63 percent). Seedlings from the rest of Europe accounted for 37 percent of the imports. In the long term, the import of forest seedlings has decreased from the rest of Europe and increased from the Nordic and the Baltic countries.
The import of seedlings is dominated by Norway spruce (except for year 2008 and 2013), which accounted for over 80 percent of the total import of seedlings. However, the proportion of Norway spruce seedlings in 2021 was the lowest since registration started and has continued to decrease in 2023 (65,2 percent). Hence Scots pine has increased and now accounts for 21.4 percent of the share of imported seedlings, which is the highest share of Scots pine since the registration started. Of the other tree species, larch is the most common.
The statistics refer to seedlings and seeds for use in Sweden.