Increase in notifications for final felling in 2023

In 2023, the Swedish Forest Agency received notifications for final felling according to Section 14 of the Forestry Act, on 242,216 hectares of productive forest land. This is an increase of 6 percent compared to 2022. Despite the increase in 2023, the notified area was lower than the average for the last ten years.

Notified area for felling for February decreased compared with February 2023

The latest statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency show that the area notified for felling in February decreased 25 percent, compared to February 2023. The area regarding applications for permits for final felling in montane forests decreased to barely one seventh, compared to the same month last year.

Notified area for felling decreased in January

The latest statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency show that the area notified for felling in January decreased 21 percent, compared to January 2023. The area regarding applications for permits for final felling in montane forests however, increased by 20 percent, compared to the same month last year.

Timber stocks still low

Timber stocks on 31 December 2023 were 4 percent lower than at the same time last year and 15 percent lower than the average for the past five years, according to the Swedish Forest Agency's survey.

Sharp increase in infringement compensation

In 2023, the Swedish Forest Agency paid out almost SEK 309 million in infringement compensation to landowners for denied felling permission in montane forests. This is a sharp increase since 2020 when the first few compensation payment totalling SEK 3 million were paid out. At the same time, the low level of the Swedish Forest Agency's establishment of formally protected areas continued in 2023.

Increase in roundwood prices 2023

In 2023 the roundwood prices on delivery timber increased for sawlogs by 12 per cent and for pulpwood by 37 per cent in comparison to 2022. The prices are volume weighted averages for delivery timber and refer to current prices, which do not take inflation into account.

Notified area for felling for December decreased compared with the same period 2022

The latest statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency show that the area notified for felling in December decreased 20 percent, compared to December 2022. The area regarding applications for permits for final felling in montane forests however, increased by 18 percent, compared to the same month last year.

Almost 9 percent of the area of regeneration felling is left as environmental consideration areas

The median contiguous area of regeneration felling was 2.4 hectares in 2022 and the largest 5 percent of contiguous areas of regeneration were 14.7 hectares or larger. Just over 9 percent of the regeneration area was left as environmental consideration areas during the felling seasons 2017/2018 – 2019/2020. The average width of the zones left as consideration areas around water was 11 metres and the proportion of the shoreline that lacked a zone with consideration areas was 29 percent.

Notified area for felling for November is in parity with the same period 2022

The latest statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency show that the area notified for felling in November decreased by 1 percent, compared to November 2022. The area regarding applications for permits for final felling in montane forests however, increased three-fold, compared to the same month last year.

Employment in forestry unchanged

In 2022, 30 200 people were employed in forestry, which is at the same level as in 2021. Occupational accidents in forestry decreased during 2022.