In 2014, Finland to abolish rotation age for logging

Next year, the new Forest Code will come into effect in Finland, which, in particular, involves the abolition of rotation age. Now the project of the document goes public examination. In an interview with Forest portal of Karelia scientist of Metla Forest Research Institute Timo Leinonen explained what caused the need to adjust the forest legislation.

“Updating the Forest Code is dictated by changes of the objectives of forest owners and the working conditions of the forest sector”, – said Leinonen. – “In Finland, there are more than 600,000 forest owners, and each of them has his own objectives in the field of forest management. The reform of forest legislation is aimed at increasing freedom of choice for forest owners, on the one hand, and raising their responsibility for their forests, on the other”.

“The goal is to reduce the detailed regulation of forestry activities and at the same time to eliminate the restrictions on the age and diameter of tree stand during felling. This provides an opportunity for forest owners to make their own choices about the terms and rotation age of further cuttings. The draft Forest Code provides also for the use of more diversified methods of forest management. This will allow more flexible use of group-selection cuttings, for instance, as well as methods of growing the forests with mixed-age structure. The purpose of the reform is precisely to encourage forest owners to engage more actively in forestry operations and improve profitability of forest management”, – Leinonen noticed.