Position Paper: Where Not to Log in Finland, Norway and
Sweden. July 1996
The following is a list of key forest types that should be
embraced by an immediate logging ban. Although all three
can mostly be found within A) Old Growth forests, it is
important to specify other areas that have been recognised of
high ecological value and in need of protection. We strongly
urge that all consumers of forest products from these three
countries refrain from purchasing products coming from those
forests areas defined below.
A) OLD GROWTH FORESTS:
Stands regenerated by natural succession, with a substantial
amount of old trees and deadwood, and often with an uneven
age structure
B) MOUNTAIN-NEAR FORESTS
Finland - high-altitude forests defined by the Forest and Park
Service, the exploitation of which is already restricted, and
which are mostly old growth forests.
Sweden - non-fragmented areas as defined by SSNC (Grans
for Storskaligt Skogsbruk I Fjallnara Skogar, ISBN
91-558-5201-7)
C) KEY HABITATS:
Habitats, regardless of size, where there are red listed species
or suitable conditions for such species (definition used by the
Swedish National Board of Forestry in their ongoing
inventory).
ADDITIONAL NOTE
In Finland, most of the old growth forests on the state-owned
commercial forests are inventoried and mapped by Nature
League. In Norway, a great part of the old growth forests are
registrated by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
and Last Chance. These maps and inventories can be used as a
starting point in protection demands. It is important to note
that these maps are not comprehensive. There are other areas
of high value that are still unregistered (have not been
inventoried) and should be protected.
This list was compiled by:
the Swedish Society for Nature
Conservation (Naturskyddsforeningen), Friends of the Earth
Norway (Naturvernforbund) and
Finnish Nature League
(Luonto Liitto).
Back to Other old-growth definitions page
Back to Old-growth page
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