The total area notified for final felling in Sweden decreased by 24% in November compared to the same month last year, and it decreased the most in the region South of Sweden, according to the Swedish Forest Agency.
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 have been notified in 2019. It is, despite the unusually large areas notified earlier this year, 5% lower annual rate in comparison to the first eleven months 2018.
In region 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 region Northern Sweden the notified area decreased by 29% to 5 518 hectares.
In region South of Northern Sweden the notified area decreased by 22% to 6 966 hectares compared to 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 note for November since 2007.
In region Central Sweden the notified area decreased by 10% to 7 456 hectares.
The activity in notification of final felling is still high in region Central Sweden despite a small decrease during November compared to 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.