a clear-felled area with basic retention

Basic retention in every measure

Regardless of what measures we take in our forestry, we always take into account biodiversity, cultural environments, outdoor life and reindeer herding – we call it environmental consideration or basic retention. The most extensive consideration is taken during regeneration harvest.

higt stumps left — Created and natural high stumps of pine

We manage most of our forests with basic rentention. Basic retention works well in forests with lower nature conservation values, which we manage so they can produce as much wood as possible. Research* shows that basic retention makes a major difference to biodiversity and that many species thrive with this.

With today’s forestry management, regeneration harvesting does not result in large clear-felled areas. The areas are smaller, and we always leave around 10–15 percent of the trees in place. For example, we leave groups of trees that further break up the bare appearance of the regeneration area, and we leave buffer zones with trees along mires and watercourses. We also create high stumps and leave dead wood.

Cultural envorinmental consideration, menaing protecting ancient and cultural remains, is another important aspect of forest management. These remains – which include for example trapping pits, paths, house foundations, and cairns – are traces from previous generations, and we have a great responsibility to preserve them,

We also apply considerations measures in areas used for recreation and outdoor activities. This applies to areas such as those that include paths, hiking trails, and popular excursion destinations.

Functional consideration

SCA strives for the consideration to be functional. In the same way that we make optimal use of each felled tree, we also ensure that the trees we do not fell provide the best possible benefit.

Our ambition is that our fellings will meet the forest sector's common goals for good environmental consideration. The goals have been developed in collaboration with the forest sector and serve as guidance in practical forestry. Read more below.

Thorough planning

Planning is crucial for effective nature consideration. The most extensive planning is done prior to regeneration harvest. Our well-trained planners thoroughly assess the forest to determine what nature consideration should be taken. They then provide instructions to the harvest teams to inform them on how to conduct the harvesting.

It is also very important to fell without causing damage to the soil and water. That is why we work according to a methodology that we call SED, Gentle Effective Driving. Thanks to it, we can minimize the number of driving injuries and work more efficiently.

* The Smart Tree Retention research program has highlighted various aspects of nature consideration. Read more at slu.se. See also “Biodiversity in the Swedish Forest – Condition, Trends, and Environmental Work” report by Mats Hannerz and Per Simonsson.

A diversity of considerations

Our basic retention encompasses a variety of measures to benefit species with different needs. Some species benefit directly, while others are supported in the long term. Here are some examples of the basic retention we take.

Preserve groups of trees

By preserving groups of living, standing trees, we create a sanctuary for many species from the old forest, helping them survive until the new forest has grown. This measure also makes the harvested area feel less bare.

Preserve conservation patches

By preserving conservation patches, we leave important habitats for many species waiting for the new forest to grow. These patches may consist of forests older than the surrounding forest, or sensitive environments like wetland forests or forests near rocky slopes.

Leave buffer zones

Buffer zones is one example of conservation patches. By leaving forested buffer zones around lakes, watercourses, and mires, we protect aquatic flora and fauna and species that thrive in the moist forest environment.

Preserve and create dead wood

Many species depend on dead wood. Therefore we save dead trees, both standing and those lying on the ground. We also make sure to create new dead wood by creating high stumps that is three metres high. It is important to have a wide variety of dead wood in the forest, as many species have specific requirements. Some, for example, prefer sun-exposed wood, while others prefer shaded wood. A single dead tree can serve as a habitat for hundreds of different species before it fully decomposes.

Preserve old pines

Pine trees can nurture many species for more than 1,000 years. This is because pine trees can initially live for several hundred years and then remain standing as dead trees for a very long time. Once they fall they can remain on the ground for many hundred years before finally decomposing.

Preserve conservation trees

We preserve conservation trees, meaning trees with particularly high nature values such as exceptionally large or old trees, thick aspens and alders, as well as all willows and rowans. If there are no obvious trees with high nature value, we instead preserve other resilient trees that can develop into large trees with nature values. All tree species present in a harvesting area should in some way be left behind.

See more examples of basic retention (pdf)

Basic retention at thinning and other measures

We take environmental consideration in all our forestry activities, such as soil scarification, pre-commercial thinning and road construction.

More about rentetion in thinning and other measures

More consideration in our forestry

Consideration for reindeer husbandry

We place great importance on collaborating with affected Sami villages to find constructive solutions that minimize the impact of our forestry on reindeer herding.

Cultural environmental consideration

It is essential to protect ancient and other cultural-historical remains when managing the forest. These remains, such as pitfalls, trails, house foundations, and stone piles, are traces of previous generations, and we have a great responsibility to preserve them.

Consideration for outdoor recreation

We also take measures to ensure consideration in areas used for recreation and outdoor activities. This includes areas near trails, hiking paths, and popular excursion destinations.

Targets for good environmental consideration

Our ambition is that our fellings and other forestry operations will meet the forest sector's common targets for good environmental consideration. This applies both in our own forests and when we carry out measures on behalf of private forest owners.

The targets have been developed in collaboration with the forest sector and are intended to lead to more functional and effective environmental care. They serve as guidance in practical forestry and show how environmental consideration should be taken when planning and implementing forestry measures in production forests.