Silviculture, 2008

From the 1980s to the beginning of the 1990s, around 30 000 hectares were planted yearly. In 1994, the planted area was reduced to approximately 20 000 hectares, and in 2005 to around 10 000 hectares. Since 2005, the planted area has increased, and in 2008 the area totalled 14 100 hectares.

Reduced scarification

Scarification involves removal of vegetation in spots to improve conditions for natural regeneration and growth of forest plants. A total of 4 800 hectares were scarified in 2008; a decrease of 950 hectares from 2007.

Tending of young stands consists of clearing, weed combating and juvenile spacing - all work that is done in connection with the establishment of new forest. In total, 30 000 hectares of young forest were tended in 2008, almost the same area as in 2007.

In total, 660 hectares were sprayed in 2008, which is 40 hectares more than in the year before.

Little drainage

There has been a sharp decline in drainage of bogs and woodland in recent years. This is mainly due to greater environmental awareness and reduced profitability. The reduction in drainage works in 2007 coincides with the disappearance of public subsidies to these activities in 2007. In 2008, drainage work was not registered.

NOK invested

In total, NOK 241 million was invested in silviculture in 2008. Of this, NOK 108 was invested in forest planting, NOK 100 million in tending and NOK 10 million in scarification. The remainder was invested in clearing and fertilizing and such like.

Tables:

• Table 1 Forest regeneration, by county. 1991-2008
• Table 2 Silviculture, by County. 2002-2008
• Table 3 Scarification. Area and expenditure, by county. 1999-2008
• Table 4 Expenditure and public subsidies on silviculture, by County. 2001-2008