Finland’s growing forests cover 2 billion m³ of the country, according to the latest national forest inventory.
The total area is 79.4 million m³ larger than in previous inventories and is the largest since the 1920s when the country’s growing stock amounted to 1.58 billion m³. Growing stock has risen by 25% over the past 50 years.
Almost two-thirds of the trees planted since the 1950s are Scots pine, less than a third is spruce and the remainder broadleaves.
Meanwhile, UPM-Kymmene is planning to donate 500ha of forest land to the Finnish state to enable it to create a national wilderness park in Repovesi in southern Finland.
The company, which has not carried out any logging in the area for 10 years, is also prepared to protect 1,200ha of land surrounding the park.
