Some productive forest land we need to manage with adapted retention, besides our basic retention. In these forests, the nature conservation interest is higher and we therefore adapt our management to preserve or develop nature values while still being able to produce some wood. For example, we can take measures to, benefit sensitive species or promote deciduous forests.
SCA's Nature conservation strategy
In our Nature conservation strategy, we highlight the measures we take to combine productive and profitable forestry with an effective nature conservation that preserves biodiversity. With the force of the forest, we contribute to a sustainable future.
SCA’s forest shall be manage they are at least as rich in biodiversity, nature experiences and raw material in the future as they are today dag and 100 percent of raw material from responsible managed forest.
We will actively contribute to biodiversity by conserving, developing and restoring habitats for selected species.
We achieve this by
- Maintaining a high level of competence among all employees.
- Conducting long-term and diverse forestry with consideration for nature in all measures.
- Conserving, developing and restoring habitats that
are important for SCA’s Species Commitment from a landscape perspective. - Being resource-efficient by applying the right measures
in the right place and balancing all values of the forest, including climate benefits. - Inspiring and supporting private forest owners in practicing an active forestry with good nature conservation.
- Collaborating with authorities, research institutes and
other stakeholders.
High ambitions
Our nature conservation strategy guides us in our nature conservation management, and our ambitions are set high. This means that we will meet various certification requirements and, in some cases, exceed them, such as in our work with action programs and initiatives for waterways and wetlands.
Our strategy emphasizes the importance of active conservation measures to create valuable habitats and benefit the flora and fauna that inhabit our forests. We also place great importance on creating future value in selected areas that currently lack high nature values. Additionally, we aim to ensure high growth in our forests to generate the highest possible climate benefits.
Over 30 percent consideration for nature
In our nature conservation strategy, we specify the conservation measures we implement. Over 20 percent of our productive forest land is left as voluntary set-asides, managed with combined targets or included in the basic retention we leave during harvesting, viewed over the forest’s entire life cycle. An additional 10 percent of our forest land is exempt from forestry due to being low productive, meaning it doesn't produce much timber.
- 7% are voluntary set-asides
- 6% are areas managed with combined targets and adapted retention. Here, we preserve habitats while harvesting some timber.
- 10-15% is left as basic retention during harvesting
- 10% is land with low timber production (low-productive forest land) where we do not conduct forestry
Nature conservation on various scales
We make various types of nature conservation measures in a range of geographic scales when it comes to manage and distribute our nature conservation areas.
- Landscape ecological planning applies for our entire forest holding and is a cornerstone of our approach to nature conservation. Here we identify forestswith very high conservation values and create conservation areas. A conservation area can range from just one hectare to several hundred hectares. These areas cover approximately 15 percent of our total land holdings.
- Forest with high nature values are left as set asides or we manage them in order to preserve the nature values.
- Some forests we manage with combined targets and adpted retention. Here we can both produce wood and to preserve and develop nature values.
- Most of our forest is managed with basic retention. We plan and implement our considerations in all harvesting operations and other forestry actions.
- We carry out active and targeted measures, such as prescribed burning and wetland restoration, in specific areas where the measures will promote high conservation values over time.
Management and distribution
This is how we distribute and manage our nature conservation areas in terms of our productive forest land in Sweden.
Voluntary set-aside 100% consideration
Forests with very high natural values we set aside voluntary for free development or to be manage in a nature conservative way so that the forest maintains its nature values over time. For example, we carry out prescribed burning to benefit fire-dependent species or harvest competing spruces in pine or deciduous forests. Our goal is 7% voluntary set-asides.
Combined targets >15-75% consideration
Forests with moderate to high nature values we manage with combined targets. This means that we harvest timber while preserving the habitat and nature values. Some forests are managed with continuous cover methods so that the forest feeling is preserved. In other forests, larger areas are saved to benefit sensitive species or we save areas rich in hanging lichen. In many cases, reindeer husbandry is also benefited by improving the conditions for reindeer grazing. Our goal is 6% combined targets.
Adapted retention 15-30% retention
Basic retention 10-15% consideration
We manage the majority of our forests, 87%, with basic retention in our clear felleing forestry. This means that we take nature consideration into account in all our forestry measures. For example, we save buffer zones near watercourses and marshes as well as smaller forest areas for sensitive species. We also leave groups of trees and save and create dead wood.
Read more about
SCA's nature conservation palette
Our nature conservation palette encompasses the tools we use to work with conservation and consideration. This includes for example setting aside forests for natural development, and implementing active and making active and specific measures to benefit sensitive species. Another important tool is the basic retention we apply during all our forestry operations.
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.
Forest & climate
Limiting global warming is one of the greatest challenges of our time. As a forest company, we are one part of the solution. First as trees in our forests grow and capture and bind CO₂. Then as our sustainable raw materials are turned into products that replace those that leave a broader carbon footprint. In this way, oil and coal can remain underground.