Forestry

SCA wants to economise of what the forest provides but not at the expense of the animals and plants of the forest.

Through a six-point program we are aiming to integrate forest management and environmental considerations:

1. Nature consideration in all forestry management

   SCA shows consideration for nature in all forestry operations, including final felling, thinning, cleaning and soil preparation. The most obvious example is the consideration for nature in final felling, in which different forms of green tree retention play an important role. Single trees and groups of trees as well as different types of buffer zones and small biotopes such as waterlogged woodlands, ravines, rock outcrop areas and rocky slopes are retained. About four percent of the timber volume, corresponding to seven percent of the area, is left standing within the cutting areas.
    

2. Environmentally compatible management methods which in many respects resemble natural disturbance factors such as fire

   The forest ecosystem of northern Sweden is adapted to such major disturbances as natural fires. SCA’s forest management system involves predominantly final felling, which in many respects resembles a burned area. To reintroduce the effects of fire to the ecosystem, SCA has started to implement controlled burning of about 800 hectares annually. Forest areas that naturally, never or seldom catch on fire are set aside or managed with selective cutting.
    

3. Knowledge of the conservation aspects of SCA's forests

   In order to identify important areas for ensuring biodiversity, SCA has surveyed valuable habitats of which key woodland habitats are the most valuable. Examples of important key habitats are old-growth conifer forests, old broadleaf natural woodlands and spruce swamps. Important features in the key habitats are dead wood, coarse woody debris and old trees.
    

4. Ecological landscape planning

   In the ecological landscape planning process, SCA applies the information obtained from the survey and from its forest database. Ecologically valuable areas are either selected for adapted management, such as selective cutting, or set aside from felling entirely. About five percent of the forest area is set aside and another three percent is managed with special consideration for the fauna and flora. Rare forest habitats are also recreated, for example, forests with a high proportion of deciduous trees.
    

5. High level of competence among all employees and continued development of the knowledge base and methods

   SCA trains all employees continuously in nature consideration. It is important that everyone not only knows what to do, but also understands why different types of considerations are important for the environment.
    

6. Cooperation with public authorities with regard to special protection under the Nature Conservation Act

   SCA cooperates with the authorities in establishing nature reserves. This has involved the sale of certain extensive forest areas to the government. 

SCA's forest management fulfils the requirements in the Swedish FSC standard (Forest Stewardship Council) and the management of SCA's forest holdings, amounting to 2.6 M hectares, is FSC certified.