For the first time in 100 years, growth in Norway is falling. This means that, among other things, we cut down more forest than we plant. – If we are to continue cutting down forests, then we have to deal with this, says Runde Hedegart in Forestry, which this summer is carrying out an extensive survey of the forest. It is the Westland municipalities that come out worst in the statistics. Rogaland is the worst, where only 25 percent plant new forest after they have cut down. – In order to get good growth, it is important to plant at the right time, to look after the forest and to cut down when the tree is ready for cutting. Many cut too early. Everything has something to say for growth. It is required by law to plant new forest within three years after you have cut it down. Forestry is an industry that requires enormous patience. We are talking up to a hundred years before you get to cut. – If we continue as we are doing now, we will get less timber. We have to do the job now, and would ideally have done it 20 years ago as well. A small fir tree is about to grow up. But this tree probably won’t be cut down by Peder Vatten. Photo: Anne Mari Flatset / news Important to follow the law Peder Vatten runs his own forestry in Tingvoll in Nordmøre, as generations before him have also done. In Peder’s forest, you can find pine trees that are up to 150 years old. – The pine must have twice as long as a spruce, because it grows much more slowly, he says. Vatten believes that forest owners must learn what is important to do when managing forests. – It’s not just chopping. If you are going to harvest, you must sow. And you have to take care of what you sow, he says. Among other things, Vatten used funds from the timber he sells to plant new forests. In this way, he ensures that he can afford to plant new ones. The Minister of Agriculture and Food, Sandra Borch, says the government has great ambitions for the development of the forest and forestry, but that it is important that the forest owner takes responsibility. – I would like to emphasize that the forest owner has the responsibility under the Forest Act to manage his forest sustainably. Central to sustainable forestry according to the law is to ensure satisfactory rejuvenation after felling, and the municipality has an important role in checking that the regulations are followed. Agriculture and Food Minister Sandra Borch says the government will develop forestry. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen Can affect the absorption of carbon dioxide Logging can affect the absorption of carbon dioxide, which is why rejuvenation is important to create new forest. This is according to Gunnhild Søgaard, who is head of research for the Department of Forestry and Climate at the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy (NIBIO). There is a minimum requirement for plant density in the forest owners’ obligation to rejuvenate, but there is room for more trees that could absorb more carbon dioxide, she says. – If you rejuvenate more than the minimum requirement in the regulations, it will increase the carbon dioxide uptake, says Søgaard. She emphasizes that new trees must not be planted, but the form of rejuvenation that best suits the vegetation in the area must be found. It can be planting, leaving seed trees or sowing. Peder Vatten’s forestry at Tingvoll. Running a forestry requires enormous patience. It takes many people from the time a tree is planted until he can cut it down. Photo: Anne Mari Flatset / news – Need to gain more knowledge Throughout the summer, Rune Hedegart in Skognæringa kyst will continue with the investigation. Before they come up with a fresh report in the autumn. – The forest is, as of today, one of the most important renewable resources when we talk about the material, i.e. things we can touch and feel. And the forest is important there. He believes that more people should gain more knowledge about forestry. And that one can manage the regulations a little tougher. – The modern forestry that we have operated for the last hundred years has been very successful in that we plant new ones. And that must be done relatively quickly after felling, because competing vegetation can appear, especially on the best fields where there is good production capacity, he says.
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For the first time in 100 years, growth is decreasing – we are taking out more forest than we are planting – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
