The volume of deadwood in Finnish forests could reach 20 m3 per hectare by 2065***. Such a situation may arise even if current logging volumes are increased. The situation is being “stimulated” not by laziness or lack of forest management, but by the requirements for ensuring biodiversity.

In its Forest Programme, the Finnish Forest Industries Federation studied various development options (scenarios) and levels (the relationship between the conservation of natural values and logging) – how and how much balance needs to be maintained between the structural and biological characteristics of Finnish forests and logging (the forest industry) – for example, what would be the necessary volume of dead (decaying) wood, the amount of old, overmature trees, and the like.

The increase in the volume of dead but usable (in other words, suitable for firewood) wood to this same level (20 m3/ha) has also been estimated by representatives of the Natural Resources Institute Finland.

*** editorial note – according to data from the Silava forestry research institute, this figure is currently 23 m3/ha in Latvia