Stockholm 120105 - Mr Christer Segerstéen,
Chairman of the National Federation of Forest Owners, says that forest
felled by the storm in southern Sweden constitutes a national catastrophe.
In a meeting between Cabinet Minister Ulrica Messing and forestry
representatives on Tuesday 11th January the latter required extraordinary
measures in order to find ways of processing all forest felled by the storm.
The total volume of felled forest amounts to approximately 60 million cubic
meters, which is almost twice as much as the storm felled volume in 1969.
Losses in the area owned by members of the "Södra" association
alone is over 32 million cubic meters. That is the equivalent of about four
years normal felling for the association.
All this timber must be taken care of before next summer, otherwise it will
be spoiled. That is the reason why we want the Swedish Government to ensure
that no unnecessary bureaucracy will disturb processing of the timber. We
wish to pour water over the timber that now has to be stored and we must be
able to use chemicals to prevent damage to timber and to forests, says
Christer Sergerstéen.
However, all tragedies that are a consequence of storm felled forest is the
worst aspect of the catastrophe. Several forest owners have lost practically
all what they have. Several generations' work is wasted. That feels very
hard indeed.
Södra's field organization is working intensively in order to find
resources for taking care of its members' storm felled timber. An immediate
prohibition against concluding any kind of contracts has been introduced.
Besides, only storm felled forest will be cut. Forest industry companies
further north have been contacted in order to increase felling opportunities
and to find outlets for the timber.
Last updated 16.12.2004