world news - 26.07.2007
Finnish forest industry needs more domestic timber
Timber prices are at a record level, but nevertheless additional
supply is very modest. When Russian export duties on timber hamper
imports there will be a strong demand for additional timber from
privately owned forests, i.e. at least 60 million cubic metres.
When imports from Russia dwindle the need for timber from private
forests will increase considerably. The objective is to obtain annually
more than 60 million cubic metres of timber from private forests. At
the end of the 1990s private forest owners sold as much as 50 million
cubic metres. Thereafter sales have decreased to an average of 40
million cubic metres.
A recent report from the Finnish Forest Research Institute indicates
that annual growth in Finnish forests amounts to almost 100 million
cubic metres. Annual sustainable felling can amount to 72 million cubic
metres and after ten years to as much as 80 million cubic metres. At
present the opportunities for sustainable felling are far from being
fully exploited.
Considerably more activity from private forest owners is needed to meet
industry's increasing demand for timber. Much more effective
application of holding-level forest management plans and better
guidance for forest owners are essential measures to achieve this
purpose. The Government should also introduce new forest tax
legislation as an incentive for increasing timber production and sales,
as well as for encouraging forest owners to initiate active forest
management.
See also:
- — Swedish forest industry invests in broadband
- — Wood products prices rise slightly
- — Chinese Cousin Helps American Chestnut Tree Return
- — New unit to test timber
- — Brazil: Civil construction fuels hefty growth in domestic market
