SCA Sweden Examines Continuous-Cover Forestry for Building Timber Quality
A field excursion in Southern Norrland, Sweden, reviewed continuous-cover forestry methods like shelterwood and selection harvesting to produce high-quality timber for building conservation.
SCA Field Study Focuses on Forest Diversity
SCA recently hosted a field excursion in Southern Norrland, Sweden, for nearly 20 participants from the Collaborative Group for Continuous-Cover Forestry. This group, established in autumn 2023, aims to advance understanding and share practices in continuous-cover forestry and other management approaches.
Attendees included representatives from the Swedish Forest Agency, Sveaskog, the County Administrative Board of Västernorrland, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.
The study focused on evaluating methods that increase forest diversity and support the production of high-quality timber, particularly for building conservation projects. Anna Cabrajic, a Forest Ecologist at SCA, stated the discussions are important for identifying effective forestry methods.
Diverse Harvesting Methods Under Review
The excursion visited four sites where SCA has implemented various continuous-cover methods. One stop was a deciduous shelterwood stand where SCA harvested mainly spruce in 2018 to cultivate a birch-dominated habitat for future timber production. This initiative also contributes to increasing deciduous forest proportions, aligning with FSC certification requirements.
Askia Sandberg, SCA’s Conservation Specialist in Ångermanland, noted the importance of such measures for both timber and supporting local birdlife. Discussions at this site included the challenges of establishing new forest without initial site preparation or planting.
The group also examined postponed pine shelterwood methods at Viksmon, including a stand harvested in 1995 and 2008, which now contains 138 stems per hectare.
Balancing Timber Yield with Ecological Values
Further observations at Viksmon highlighted the challenge of dense older pine shelterwoods competing with regenerating seedlings, potentially hindering long-term pine establishment.
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation noted that excessive thinning could prevent the development of a multi-layered forest structure, prompting discussions on balancing environmental, social, and economic values.
Another area at Viksmon, not visited, saw timber harvested in 2008 and the shelterwood thinned a few years ago to 25 stems per hectare, consistent with Swedish Forest Agency guidelines for postponed shelterwood.
Additionally, a selection system harvest was conducted in a sparse spruce forest in 2024, removing approximately 20 percent of timber in extraction trails, with plans for reuse in 15–20 years. This method was chosen for a consideration area containing protected species.
Implications for Sustainable Timber Sourcing in Asia
Lars-Olov Sarenmark from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency stressed the necessity of adapting management methods to specific site conditions, such as retaining shelterwood in wetter forests to aid seedling establishment. This requires deep local forest knowledge.
Asian procurement teams specifying timber for building conservation projects or green-certified developments should request detailed documentation from suppliers regarding their continuous-cover forestry practices. This includes the age structure of harvested stands and specific regeneration methods.
For instance, a project requiring FSC-certified timber might verify if the supplier uses methods like postponed pine shelterwood, which could affect long-term supply consistency and timber characteristics for specific applications in 2030 and beyond. Understanding these nuanced practices helps ensure the timber meets project specifications and sustainability goals.
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