The positive results for Södra’s consideration follow-ups have continued, according to the company’s Green Balance Sheet report. Both regeneration harvests and thinning operations have maintained continued high levels despite a year of extraordinary weather conditions. At the same time, the concentration of considerations has reached new heights with a result of 98 percent for approved sites, the highest score to date.
2018 was a year characterised by extraordinary weather conditions that made forestry operations difficult due to long periods of heavy precipitation and extreme drought. Nonetheless, Södra’s nature conservation considerations received a high score with 94 percent of the regeneration harvests* and 93 percent of the thinning operations receiving approval.
“It is especially gratifying to see such a high percentage of approved objects considering the conditions we were working under. We have been working systematically with nature conservation activities for more than 20 years. In times like these, it is uplifting to see how that experience has generated results for both production and nature conservation,” said Klara Joelsson, ecologist, Södra.
MORE CONCENTRATED CONSIDERATIONS
One aspect monitored in the Green Balance Sheet is the concentration of considerations. Since 2010, the rate of approved sites in this regard has risen steadily – from 80 percent to 98 percent in 2018, the best result to date.
“Södra works actively, where possible, to concentrate nature conservation considerations to specific sites, and this has generated results. By concentrating nature conservation considerations, we can maximise both nature conservation benefits and the production potential. Many species benefit more when trees are left in groups rather than spreading them out across a harvesting area,” said Klara Joelsson.
*A harvesting method that removes nearly all mature trees to make room for a new generation of trees from natural regeneration or planting.
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