Old aspen forest

Indicators for biodiversity

Dead wood and old forest are a few examples of indicators for biodiversity in the forest. This means they represent important factors to ensure a diversity of species. SCA tracks the development of five key indicators in our holdings over time and the result has been very positive. The different indicators have risen by about 25-90% in a relatively short period.

small insect

Measuring and assessing the impact of various efforts to promote biodiversity is complex. Most initiatives are moreover long-term and the results are often not seen for some time.

As one approach to studying developments, we track the performance of five key indicators that forest researchers consider constitute important habitats for many species and that support a rich and varied forest landscape. The five indicators are: dead wood, old deciduous trees, deciduous trees, and old forest with specific indications of conservation value.

The development has been highly positive and are a result of the transition towards more sustainable forestry management practices. The improvements is mainly due to our voluntary set-asides, that we always leave basic retention in every forest measure we make and our way of developing our methods of managing the forest.

This is how the measuring is made

We have monitored the development of the indicators with the help of the Swedish National Forest Inventory at SLU, which publishes data for the whole of Sweden based on a large number of sample plots. It has many sample plots on our land and the figures we present are based on its estimations from these plots. 

Given the uncertainty regarding data for individual years, we mainly monitor developments in the longer term. We chose a mean value of outcomes between 1996 and 2000 as a base.

Positive development for all five indicators

Dead wood in the forest

Dead wood

The volume of dead wood is one of the most important factors for biodiversity in the forest landscape. In Sweden, more than 5,000 species depend on dead wood at different stages of degradation, including various bracket fungi, beetles and birds. The volume of dead wood has increased by approximately 44%. The increase is mainly because we have left dead trees and created dead wood during harvesting, in addition to dead wood being left following storms (2011, 2013) and insect damage (2009–2016).
Deciduous trees

Deciduous trees

Deciduous trees play an important role for many species, including a large number of insects. Birds benefit as the insects provides a source of food and they nest in the deciduous trees. Many fungi and lichens also depend on deciduous trees. The volume of deciduous trees has increased by 24%. The increase is primarily because deciduous trees are left standing to a greater extent in conjunction with pre-commercial thinning and thinning. Deciduous trees are also left standing to a greater extent in connection with basic retention in harvesting.
Old thick deciduous trees

Old thick deciduous trees

The supply of old thick deciduous trees is important since it benefits many bird species, and will in time produce habitats in the form of old, dead hardwood. Some mosses and lichens only live on older deciduous trees, such as willow, aspen or birch. The volume of thick deciduous trees in our forests has increased by 86%. The increase has mainly been due to a larger proportion of forests becoming older and thus more deciduous trees growing thicker.
Old spruce

Old forest

Older forests are important for many species, particularly those that are not very competitive. The percentage of old forest (≥141 years) has increased by 45%. The increase is primarily due to the fact that voluntarily set-aside and older managed forests have grown older. The older managed forests are largely maintained with combined targets, for example using continuous-cover forestry methods.

Old forest with SICV

Older forests with specific indications of conservation values (SICV) are forests that are both older and have a high frequency of important structures, including dead wood, trees of varying ages and very thick trees. The percentage of old forest with specific indications of conservation value has increased by 55%. The increase is due partly to aging of voluntarily set-aside forests, and partly to an increase in the proportion of this type of forest in the forests SCA manages for timber production, or combined targets.
björkskog

Consistent with the Green Steps

Several of the biodiversity indicators are consistent with the Swedish Forest Agency's Green Steps. Green Steps are targets that constitute a step towards Swedens  environmental goal of Living Forests

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a buffer zone in the forest

Nature conservation and consideration

To ensure biodiversity in the forest, a variety of habitats are needed. We use a wide range of tools to achieve this. For instance, we leave extensive consideration areas during harvesting, voluntary set-aside to develop freely, and carry out active measures to benefit different species. Follow-ups show that our efforts are yielding results.

Prescribed burned forest with a small lake

Species Commitment and habitats

Our forests have a variety of flora and fauna. To make our nature conservation measures even more effective we preserve, develop and recreate the habitats that are important for species that are disadvantaged by forestry. This will help us achieve an even greater precision in our work with biodiversity.

A dead aspen lying in the forest

Landscapes for endangered species

SCA have designated ten areas as Action Plan landscapes, due to their high concentration of species that are particularly sensitive and require specific management for their habitat. By promoting these species, we can promote several other that also benefit from our measurements.