One of SCA's conservation measures is veteranization. This means actively damaging selected trees through basal burning and partial debarking. We help the trees develop wood characteristics that normally form in older, fire-damaged trees. This creates vital habitats for species that depend on this type of wood to survive.
Low-productive forest land
On forest land with low timber productivity, referred to as forest impediments, we do not conduct forestry operations. However, we can take active measures to enhance nature values.
Impediments are land with low timber productivity and are therefore unsuitable for forestry. This includes, for example, rocky outcrops, wetlands, and mountains. Swedish forestry defines all land with a production capacity of less than one cubic meter of timber per hectare and per year as an impediment.
On such forest land, we do not conduct any forestry operations. Instead we leave them untouched. However, impediments can be utilized to promote biodiversity through specific conservation measures and research.
For example, we can take active measures such as barking. Barking means that we intentional damage pines growing on impediments to enhance nature values. This involves deliberately injuring certain trees to accelerate their aging process and create a special kind of wood that is valuable for certain species.
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Unused land can give the forest new life
SLU researcher Mats Dynesius believes that pine forests on non-productive land – land with very slow growth and not used for forestry – could be a sanctuary for disadvantaged species. With SCA’s help, he is re-creating environments with dead and damaged pines and studying what benefits they can provide for various beetles. “There are unutilized opportunities for nature conservation on non-productive land,” Mats says.
Protecting wetlands and watercourses SCA
Protecting waterways as well as restoring and preserving wetlands is an important part of our forestry.