Stakeholders Explore Non-Clearcutting Forestry in Sweden
On December 9th, stakeholders in Sweden gathered in Alingsås for their 7th meeting, which focused on non-clearcutting forestry—a versatile approach incorporating various methods to sustainably manage forested areas. This event, hosted as part of the Interreg Europe GIFT project, combined theoretical insights with hands-on learning.
During the indoor session, participants explored the impacts of non-clearcutting forestry methods on biodiversity, ecology, and land management. Practical outdoor discussions demonstrated how Alingsås municipality applies these methods, with a focus on balancing environmental goals and forestry economics.
Non-clearcutting forestry can be an important tool for enabling green infrastructure in forested areas. By complementing traditional tract logging, it aids landowners in achieving environmental objectives and preparing forests for climate change. Practices like Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) also promote resilience by avoiding uniform land use. From a sociological perspective, maintaining a cohesive forest structure—ensuring gaps do not exceed 0.25 hectares—preserves the intrinsic value of forests for communities.
The event also highlighted CCF's dual benefits of profitable forestry and green infrastructure preservation. Presentations by Richard Näslund from the Swedish Forest Agency and Anna Stenström from SLU/the County Administrative Board detailed the advantages and limitations of CCF, emphasizing its role in production and ecological health.
Naemi Didriksson, an ecologist from Alingsås municipality, commended the engagement of forest owners, stating: “It’s through selection cutting approaches that forest owners can contribute to a strengthened green infrastructure. We hope that more will transition from clearcutting to selection cutting.”
This knowledge exchange underlines the importance of innovative forestry methods for sustainability. Swedish partners are already applying these insights to develop a municipal tree plan for Alingsås, advancing the goals of the GIFT project.