Development Trends in Swedish Silviculture and Some Comparisons with European Countries

Abstract

This paper is mainly concerned with progress in silvicultural practice in Sweden and the other Scandinavian countries. Reference is made to a forestry act which has been in force in Sweden since the beginning of the century and which has led to an over-emphasis on the thinning of older crops in preference to final felling. At the same time labour shortages and other factors have caused a neglect of thinning in younger crops.The small farm-forest units which are common in Scandinavia are now seen as a special problem in achieving rationalization of forest management. Co-operation to achieve larger management units is considered important.Although increasing emphasis is being placed on artificial regeneration, some 50% of Swedish forests are still being regenerated by means of seed trees. In future, intensive methods of artificial regeneration are expected to be concentrated in forests with a high productive potential. The availability of better quality planting stock has also made it possible to plant smaller numbers of trees per acre and still achieve satisfactory results.Prescribed burning is no longer considered advantageous except in areas of thick humus accumulation in Northern Sweden and to dispose of logging waste. Extensive trials are also being carried out with new types of ploughs and planting machines.

Transplants do better than seedlings, and …

“…The planting costs, at three levels, have been selected in accord with current piece-work rates which vary in some areas, but are usually more responsive t o ground conditions than type of stock. They are within the range of other rates2 (Stoeckeler 1963b, Stefansson 1969. The amount of release required is variable with the conditions of site, but under similar conditions, seedlings usually require one more release cutting than transplants.…”