Silvicultural activities
The total area of forest regeneration increased slightly compared with 2024, mainly due to an increase among individual owners. The use of soil scarification increased, while forest fertilization and supplementary planting were lower than in the previous year. Ash recycling also decreased, both in terms of area and quantity. Starting with this year’s survey, statistics regarding chemical browsing protection in the field are also reported.
Several of the results are based on estimates with margins of error. Small differences between individual years should therefore be interpreted with caution.
The statistics from the Swedish Forest Agency regarding silvicultural activities are based on two surveys: one random sample survey of small-scale forestry (owners of less than 5 000 hectares of forest land) and total population survey of large-scale forestry (owning more than 5 000 hectares). The survey of the large-scale forestry consists of more questions which is why for example the Pinus contorta regeneration is only known for this group. Taken together, the two separate surveys provide the most comprehensive picture of forestry operations in Sweden.
Since 2024, ash recycling has been included as part of the statistics on silvicultural activities and Sweden's official statistics. There is a separate survey on ash recycling. The variation in the spread of ash over the years can be due to several factors. One example is that reduced load-bearing capacity in the forest for the machines after high amounts of precipitation can affect the possibility of the spread of ash. In addition, contractors may have stopped due to poor profitability or larger producers of ash have changed fuel, which generates more or less amount of spreadable ash. A general uncertainty about ash recycling among forest owners can also play a role.
Our statistical database contains statistics from Swedish Forest Agency. Produce a table by selecting your subject and variables.
Forest regeneration measures
Results from the Swedish Forest Agency’s survey show that forest fertilization was carried out on approximately 37,000 hectares during 2025. This is a decrease from 41,000 hectares in 2024. The area that has been fertilized has varied over the past 30 years, from 10,000 hectares during 2022 to 80,000 hectares in 2010. The decline between 2021 and 2022 was caused by the sharp price increase for fertilizers during 2022, a consequence of the war in Ukraine.
Soil scarification increased, from 161,000 hectares in 2024 to 193,000 hectares in 2025. The increase occurred in all regions and was most pronounced among individual forest owners. Planting also increased slightly, from 180,000 hectares to 186,000 hectares.
The margin of error is published together with the results in the Swedish Forest Agency’s statistical database. Estimates for year 2018 are missing as the underlying surveys were not conducted that year.
Regenerating through forest cultivation
Forest cultivation is a collective term for both planting and sowing. The area regenerated through forest cultivation has varied over time. During the period 2020–2022, the regenerated area was higher than during the rest of the time series. It then decreased in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, the regenerated area amounted to 200,300 hectares, compared with 192,000 hectares in 2024.
The increase between 2024 and 2025 was mainly due to a larger regenerated area among individual owners, which increased from 98,000 hectares to 109,000 hectares. Among other owner categories, the regenerated area decreased over the same period.
The margin of error is published together with the results in the Swedish Forest Agency’s statistical database.
Supplementary planting
During the period 2005–2018 the annual number of supplementary seedlings was between 21 and 36 million. After the dry summer of 2018, 58 million supplementary plants were planted in 2019.
After the peak in 2019 the supplementary planting decreased gradually until 2023. It then increased to 43 million in 2024, before decreasing again to 33 million in 2025. The decrease between 2024 and 2025 was largest in Norrland.
2005-2017 are three-year averages where the middle year is stated. For example, 2016 refers to an average for the years 2015 to 2017. Starting in 2019, an annual estimate is made. The margin of error is published together with the results in the Swedish Forest Agency’s statistical database.
Continuous-cover forestry
The survey does not focus on individual continuous-cover practices but rather on the extent to which landowners intend to manage their land so that it remains continuously forested without creating large clear-cut areas. In this survey, examples of methods of continuous-cover forestry were provided. Continuous-cover forestry does not refer to land within voluntary set-asides, unproductive forest land or land with a goal of nature conservation or nature conservation with management.
The statistics are intended to estimate the area of productive forest land where continuous-cover forestry is used in Sweden, as a form of management. It is not an estimate of the extent of activities carried out a specific year. This estimate is therefore slightly different compared to many of the statistics regarding silvicultural activities, which refer to silvicultural activities carried out during a specific year.
During 2025 the continuous-cover forestry comprised of 735,000 hectares in Sweden. The total level was therefore in parity with 2024. However, the distribution between owner categories changed. The area among individual owners decreased from 535,000 hectares in 2024 to 475,000 hectares in 2025. The area among other owners increased from 198,000 hectares to 260,000 hectares.
Margin of error is published together with the results in the statistical database of Swedish Forest Agency.
Area with forest management plan
In 2025 an estimated 17.8 million hectares have a current forest management plan, which refers to a plan that is no more than 10 years old.
1.7 million hectares completely lack a forest management plan. For 253,000 hectares there is a plan for only a part of the holding, and for 1.5 million hectares there is a plan that is older than ten years.
There are marginal changes between years of the estimated area with a forest management plan. The statistical margin of error means that there is no guaranteed difference between the years.
Margin of error is published together with the results in the statistical database of Swedish Forest Agency.
Pinus contorta
The area planted or sowed with pinus contorta has increased in 2025 compared to 2024. From 3,300 hectares to 4,300 hectares in 2025.
In Dalarna, Västmanland and Örebro County, no Pinus contorta was planted or sowed in 2025.
Since 1980, the accumulated area planted or sowed with pinus contorta is 501,000 hectares. The contributions from 2018 are missing because the survey was not carried out at the time. Area, planted or sowed with pinus contorta, is only surveyed for large scale forestry.
Area regenerated with Pinus contorta in Norrbottens, Västerbottens, Jämtlands, Västernorrlands, Gävleborgs, Dalarnas, Värmlands and Örebro county. The margin of error is published together with the results in the Swedish Forest Agency’s statistical database.
Ash recycling
The results refer to the area and total amount of ash in tonnes of (dry weight) spread annually from 2009 to 2025.
During 2025, both the area and amount of ash recycling has decreased compared to 2024. The area decreased from 16,400 hectares to 12,800 hectares and the amount from 50,300 tons to 40,200 tons. The amount per hectare remained at approximately the same level, 3,1 tons per hectare.
During the period 2009–2025 the average area and amount of ash recycling was 12,000 hectares and 41,000 tons per year. 80 percent of all ash recycling was carried out in Götaland, 18 percent in Svealand, and 2 percent in Norrland.
The variation in the area where ash is spread from year to year may be due to several factors. One example is that high levels of precipitation can reduce the load-bearing capacity of forest soils, limiting the ability of machinery to access sites for ash application. In addition, contractors may have stopped due to poor profitability or larger producers of ash (for example heating plants) have changed fuel, which generates more or less amount of spreadable ash. A general uncertainty about ash recycling among forest owners can also play a role.
The margin of error is published together with the results in the Swedish Forest Agency’s statistical database.
New data regarding chemical browsing protection in the field
Starting with the 2025 survey, the Swedish Forest Agency now collects data on chemical browsing protection. Chemical browsing protection is applied to seedlings in the field to reduce browsing damage from ungulates, such as moose and deer. The data refers to treatment carried out on site after planting and applies to small-scale forestry.
The survey shows that 60,400 hectares were treated in 2025. Of the treated area, the largest share was in Götaland, followed by Svealand. In Norrland, the treatment occurred only to a limited extent.