Voluntary set-asides

Our ambition is to allocate approximately sju percent of our lands as voluntary set-asides. Some of the forest are left to develop freely, but in other areas we need to perform active measurments in order to preserve, develop och promote nature conservation values.

Peace and quiet for spruces

How to best preserve and develop nature conservation values depends entirely on the values and type of forest involved.

Species that live in spruce forests generally prefer shade and a long forest continuity, meaning forests that have never been clear-felled. In other words, they prefer peace and stability, without major disturbances or changes. Therefore, the conservation values in these forests are often enhanced by allowing them to develop naturally.

Active measures for others

To promote conservation values tied to deciduous and pine forests, active measures are often necessary. Many species that thrive in these forests require plenty of light and warmth. This typically means that removing some trees, particularly spruce, benefits these species. Without intervention, spruce will eventually dominate, leading to the loss of the existing conservation values.

Several species associated with pine forests also benefit from active measures such as prescirbed burning and barking. Barking involves intentionally damaging some of the tree trunks to encourage the development of resin-rich, slow-growing wood that many species depend on.

Another example of an active measure is selective thinning of younger pines in areas containing trees of varying ages and heights. Selective thinning creates a more open forest with a natural structure, similar to forests of the past, which often experienced fires.

Prioritization

We always leave forest with the highest conservation values as voluntary ser-asides to achieve the greatest conservation benefit. If we discover new areas with exceptionally high conservation values, those forests are added as voluntaryset-asides. At the same time, another forest with relatively lower conservation values may no longer be classified as a voluntary set-aside. In such cases, that forest is managed using other methods, such as continuous-cover forestry.