|
|
Forest area2 (1.1)
 |
Figure 1.1a. Forest area, 1921–2010.
Areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944.
The classification of forest land and low productive forest land in
1921–1953 does not correspond fully with the current
classification.
Source: Finnish Forest Research Institute, National Forest Inventory |
 |
Figure 1.1b. Predominance of tree species on forest land,
1921–2008
Areas ceded to the Soviet Union in 1944
Source: Finnish Forest Research Institute, National Forest Inventory |
Forest area indicates changes in the land area covered by forests
as well as in the percentage of forests compared to other
types of land use.
Three fourths of the land area of Finland, 22.8 million hectares,
is covered by forests (forest land and low productive forest).
In addition, there are 3.2 million hectares of treeless or sparsely
stocked other land areas (open mires, rocky grounds, etc.) as
well as 0.2 million hectares of other forestry land (forest roads,
storage sites, etc.). In total, forestry land covers 86% of the land
area of Finland. Nature conservation areas are included in this
figure (Fig. 1.1a).
After the Second World War, Finland ceded about 12% of its
land area to the Soviet Union. Since then, there have been
slight changes in forest area due to afforestation and clearing
of agricultural land, drainage works, the construction of communities,
and other land use measures. Some of the increase in
forest area after the 1950s is due to changes in the classification
of forest land.
In Finland, there are about 17.9 million hectares of predominantly coniferous
forest land (89%) and 1.9 million hectares of predominantly
broadleaved forest land (10%). The remaining 1% consists
of temporarily open areas in between regeneration fellings
and subsequent reforestation.
As a result of a preference for pine in forest regeneration and
drainage of pine dominated peatlands, the percentage of forests
dominated by pine has increased. Correspondingly, the area
of predominantly broadleaved forests has decreased. However,
the total volume of broadleaved stock in Finnish forests has increased
at the same time (Fig. 1.1b) as mixed stands have become
more common.
2 The long time series in the NFIs on the development of forest resources use
the Finnish classification based on site productivity. The data on forest area in
this report are therefore presented using this classification. The NFIs have employed
the international classification parallel with the national classification
scheme since the 9th inventory (1996–2003).
Links
|
