Last weekend's storm, which brought the first hurricane-force winds ever measured in Finland, felled trees not only in western and southwestern coastal areas, but also in the Pirkanmaa region and the northern part of Uusimaa.
According to data collected by the Finnish Forest Centre, the worst wind-damaged areas are located in the coastal regions of Satakunta and Southwest Finland, in the municipalities of Pori, Eurajoki, Rauma, Pyhäranta and Uusikaupunki.
In these areas, the storm felled approximately 100,000 cubic metres of timber, according to preliminary data. That figure is equivalent to about a quarter of the forest industry sector's average monthly timber imports last year.
A large proportion of the trees were uprooted by the storm according to Ragnar Höckerstedt, finance and auditing manager at the Finnish Forest Centre.
Höckerstedt adds that as the trees are scattered in random directions, the cost of clean-up and harvesting will be high.
Clean-up harvesting
The Forest Centre reminded landowners that, by law, notification must be submitted of the harvesting of storm-downed timber.
Forest owners are obliged by law to remove coniferous trees damaged by storms or other natural disasters that may spread insect pests when there are more than 10 cubic metres of damaged spruces or more than 20 cubic metres of damaged pines per hectare in the forest.
Forest owners can leave individual fallen trees in the forest, as they will gradually produce decaying wood that is important for biodiversity.
The Forest Centre also reminded owners that harvesting storm debris requires experience and solid professional skills. Forest owners should seek professional help from forestry associations, forestry companies or forestry service companies.
Due to the dangerous nature of the work, it is not recommended that forest owners harvest trees on their own, and unnecessary movement in storm damaged areas should also be avoided.
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