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Even creepy-crawlies have
the right to live.
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want to live off what the forest provides. But not at the expense
of the animals and plants of the forest. |
Not even the creepy-crawlies. |
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Through a six-point program
we are aiming to integrate forest management and environmental considerations.
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Nature consideration in all
forestry management
SCA shows consideration for nature in all forestry operations, including
final felling, thinning, cleaning and soil preparation. The most obvious
example is the consideration for nature in final felling, in which
different forms of green tree retention play an important role. Single
trees and groups of trees as well as different types of buffer zones
and small biotopes such as waterlogged woodlands, ravines, rock outcrop
areas and rocky slopes are retained. About four percent of the timber
volume, corresponding to seven percent of the area, is left standing
within the cutting areas.
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Environmentally
compatible management methods which in many respects resemble natural
disturbance factors such as fire
The forest ecosystem of northern
Sweden is adapted to such major disturbances as natural fires. SCA’s
forest management system involves predominantly final felling, which
in many respects resembles a burned area. To reintroduce the effects
of fire to the ecosystem, SCA has started to implement controlled
burning of about 800 hectares annually. Forest areas that naturally,
never or seldom catch on fire are set aside or managed with selective
cutting.
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Knowledge
of the conservation aspects of SCA's forests
In order to identify important
areas for ensuring biodiversity, SCA has surveyed valuable habitats
of which key woodland habitats are the most valuable. Examples of
important key habitats are old-growth conifer forests, old broadleaf
natural woodlands and spruce swamps. Important features in the key
habitats are dead wood, coarse woody debris and old trees.
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Ecological
landscape planning
In the ecological landscape
planning process, SCA applies the information obtained from the survey
and from its forest database. Ecologically valuable areas are either
selected for adapted management, such as selective cutting, or set
aside from felling entirely. About five percent of the forest area
is set aside and another three percent is managed with special consideration
for the fauna and flora. Rare forest habitats are also recreated,
for example, forests with a high proportion of deciduous trees.
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High
level of competence among all employees and continued development
of the knowledge base and methods SCA
trains all employees continuously in nature consideration. It is important
that everyone not only knows what to do, but also understands why
different types of considerations are important for the environment.
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Cooperation
with public authorities with regard to special protection under the
Nature Conservation Act
SCA cooperates with the authorities
in establishing nature reserves. This has involved the sale of certain
extensive forest areas to the government.
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SCA's forest management
fulfils the requirements in the Swedish FSC-standard (Forest Stewardship
Council) and the management of SCA's forest holdings, amounting
to 2.6 M hectares, is FSC-certified.
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