Norwegian timber felling reduced in 2008 but forest owners have adapted well to changing market conditions, according to the Norwegian Forest Owners’ Federation.
Federation statistics show 8.1 million m³ of timber were felled for sales on the domestic market last year, down 200,000m³ (2.5%) on a year ago.
Weak conditions in the sawn timber market led to a notable changeover to pulpwood.
The decreasing rate of exchange for the Norwegian kroner has improved the sales prospects of the woodworking industry, which exports most of its production.
But The Federation said short-term economic prospects for forest owners had deteriorated considerably because of price reductions and due to labour intensive thinnings constituting an increasing part of final fellings.
