41 million seedlings to be planted in Finland, Sweden & Russia

In 2020, more than 41 million tree seedlings will be planted in the forests of Finland, Sweden and Russia by Stora Enso. In the southern parts of the countries, the planting season started as early as April. In May, tree planting will be in full speed even further north. Source: Timberbiz

In northern forests, the planting season lasts about 150 days, which means an average of more than 270,000 tree seedlings per day will be planted by Stora Enso this summer. In Finland, about 80% of the seedlings are spruce.

Most pines are regenerated by sowing or natural regeneration, some birch is also planted. In Sweden, forest is regenerated mainly by seedlings, half of which are spruce and half pine.

Most of the production at Stora Enso’s mills is based on the wood supplied from the northern forests.

Sustainable forest management ensures that a new generation of trees replace the harvested ones. We ensure that forests are productive and healthy also in the future, says Jari Suominen, EVP, Forest Division, Stora Enso.

In Finland, approximately 150 million tree seedlings are planted in the state forests and private forest owners’ forests every year. In Sweden the number is even higher – more than 380 million seedlings. Some private forest owners prefer to plant the seedlings themselves, but there is a growing demand for silvicultural services carried out by forestry professionals.

In Sweden, Stora Enso owns approximately 1.4 million hectares of forest. Seedlings for regeneration sites are delivered from Stora Enso’s own nurseries in central Sweden.

Stora Enso Plantor follow the Swedish forest breeding program, seeking better volume growth, stem straightness, vigor, resistance and higher survival.

Stora Enso Plantor is the third biggest producer of forest seedlings in Sweden with three nurseries working as one unit with orders and deliveries.

In Stora Enso’s long term harvesting rights’ areas in Russia, 1.2 million seedlings will be planted: In Carelia, 945,000 and in Novgorod 257,000.

“We use mostly seedlings with open root system,” Jaakko Rajamäki, Director, Forest operations, Wood Supply Russia said.