Monthly statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency show a continuous decrease in the notified area for final felling. The total area notified for final felling decreased by 24% in November compared with the same month last year and it decreased the most in the south of Sweden. Source: Timberbiz
The total area notified for final felling was 26,058 hectares in November, which is lower than the average for the period 2007 – 2019.
Until November 256,693 hectares were notified in 2019. It is, despite the unusually large areas notified earlier this year, 5% lower annual rate in comparison with the first 11 months of 2018.
The area notified for final felling decreased in the whole country.
In region in the south of Sweden the decrease was a high 35% down to 6,117 hectares, which can be compared to the average level of 6,962 hectares for November during the period 2007-2019.
In northern Sweden the notified area decreased by 29% to 5,518 hectares.
In southern part of northern Sweden the notified area decreased by 22% to 6,966 hectares compared with the same month 2018. The note is below the average level of 8,233 hectares for November during the period 2007-2019, and it is the lowest noted for November since 2007.
In central Sweden the notified area decreased by 10% to 7,456 hectares.
This activity is still high in central Sweden despite a small decrease during November compared with last year’s level. A likely reason is a continuous work to remove trees damaged by bark beetle in order to slow down the distribution of the insect pest and to save some of the timber value.
The reason for the decrease in notified area in three out of four regions could be reduced timber prices and large volumes of timber in the whole chain from forest to industry. There is also still an impact from the vast areas notified 2018 in counties Jämtland and Gävleborg due to extensive forest fires that year.
There was a decrease in 18 out of 21 counties
County Skåne has the largest decrease in notified area for final felling by 56 per cent to 494 hectares compared to 2018. In County Kronoberg the decrease was 54 per cent (454 hectares) and in County Jönköping 53 per cent (687 hectares) compared to the note for November last year. That is the lowest note for November for these three counties since 2012. In County Värmland the notified area decreased by 40 per cent, which is the lowest note for November since 2011.
Other counties with large decreases in notified area for final felling in November in comparison with the same month last year are Norrbotten County (38%), Västra Götaland County (36%), Gävleborg and Gotland Counties (both 35%) and Halland County (32%).
Two counties show a significant increase in areas notified in November, both in region central Sweden.
In Södermanland County the notified area doubled in November compared with the same month 2019 to 1,082 hectares and in Västmanland County it increased by 88% to 742 hectares. That is the highest note for November in 13 years. The increase of area notified for final felling thus continued in November for those two counties. The reason is most likely the serious problems of forest damage caused by the bark beetle.
Statistics refer to total notifications and applications for permission in productive forest land for final felling.
