Soil scarification
One or two years after final harvesting, it is time to create the conditions for the establishment of a new forest by means of soil scarification. Using specialist machines, the soil is broken up to help the plants establish a root.
Planting – creating a new forest
We use three methods to create a new forest: planting, natural regeneration or seeding. The most common and safest method is planting.
Each year, about 37 million plants are sown on about 17,000 hectares of SCA’s forest land. All plants come from SCA’s Bogrundet and Wifstamon plant nurseries, which together form NorrPlant.
All planting is performed by SCA’s contractors and because it is so important that the plants are given a good start, we train contractors and their employees in the planting process. SCA also plants 10 million plants in private land where the company has assumed responsibility to carry out the task.
When natural generation is the chosen method, seed trees have been left behind after final harvesting and these are allowed to stand for between five and 15 years. Natural generation is used mostly for pine and for about 2,000 hectares annually.
Seeding is used for about 1,000 hectares annually. SCA primarily sows contorta seeds purchased from Canada. Seeds from Swedish pine are harvested in SCA’s own seed plantations for which NorrPlant is responsible. Sowing is performed directly in conjunction with soil scarification and a special sowing device is used to carry out the task.
Regeneration control
Two to three years after planting, checks are made to assess plant growth. This is either done on foot or from a helicopter. For forests using the natural generation method, this regeneration control is conducted four to seven years after final harvesting and for areas where seeds were used it is performed after four to five years.
Helicopter inventory
Five years after the regeneration control, SCA conducts a forest inventory using a helicopter to identify the forest that will require thinning. Such an inventory is performed on a regular basis at a maximum of five-year intervals.
Pre-commercial thinning
Pre-commercial thinning removes damaged trees or trees that are standing too close together in order to benefit trees of high quality and to ensure that these are given favourable growth opportunities.
Pre-commercial thinning can be conducted on several occasions depending on the need that exists.
Young stand inventory
When trees reach eight metres in height, which occurs when they are between 20 and 30 years old, a survey is conducted of the young stands. This is done to gather information concerning the forest stands and data concerning such aspects as volume per cubic metre for the various tree species.
Thinning
Thinning is an investment in the future. At the same time as wood is removed, the value of the forest destined for final harvesting is increased.
Thinning is done when the trees are standing too close together. The trees that are removed provide more light, nutrition and water for those left to grow and are considered to be of better quality and to have higher growth.
Thinning is performed on one or two occasions. The first thinning is carried out when the trees are 30 years old. Some forests need to be thinned a second time, which can be performed when they are up to 70 years old.
Fertilisation
Fertilisation is a simple way of encouraging the forest to grow quicker and SCA uses ammonium nitrate limestone, which contains nitrogen and lime.
Lime and nitrogen are added when fertilising. The lime in the fertiliser counteracts soil acidification and the nitrogen acts as a fertiliser, boosting the soil fertility for a time after fertilisation.
SCA fertilises the forests three times at ten-year intervals. The soil is always fertilised after thinning and the final fertilisation is performed about ten years prior to final felling.
Site planning
Prior to final harvesting, a plan is drawn up for the site to be harvested.
Site planning encompasses wood production, nature conservation and the measures to be undertaken to regenerate the forest and ensure regrowth.
Road construction
Roads form an important part of SCA’s planning. The company’s aim is to construct roads with the correct route so as to optimise use and minimise the impact on nature.
Final harvesting
Final harvesting takes place when the trees are between 80 and 120 years old.