Opt for continuous cover forestry
In peatlands, growing trees evaporate water. When only some of the trees are harvested at a time, enough water will continue to evaporate from the remaining trees to make drainage repair unnecessary. In addition, the water level remains stable, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and impacts on waterbodies.
Continuous cover forestry methods include strip felling, selection cutting and group selection. The one-off felling income from continuous cover forestry is smaller than that earned from regeneration felling, but then again, you save in planting and young stand management costs.
Crown thinning is another option for peatlands. It lengthens the forest cycle. In crown thinning, you recover sturdy trees from the forest and make as much use of the forest’s own undergrowth, as indicated in the image above.
TIPS FOR CONTINUOUS COVER FORESTRY
- Continuous cover forestry focuses on the profitability of peatland forestry, as well as the impacts on the climate and waterways. Attention is also paid to the biodiversity of forest nature and the mitigation of landscape impacts.
- Continuous cover forestry is suitable especially for lush peatlands. It helps maintain the balance of the water level and control nutrient emissions.
- Learn more about the wood trade-specific Metsä Group Plus management model. Metsä Group’s owner-members can get an additional bonus per hectare for felling on lush, drained, spruce-dominated peatlands if continuous cover methods – group selection or selection cutting – are used instead of clear cutting, and drainage ditches are not repaired in connection with felling.