Södra has now completed the initial inventory after storm Dave and a first compilation shows that approximately 1 million m³fub of forest has been damaged on member land in Götaland. Västra Götaland County and parts of Jönköping County are the hardest hit areas.
The storm-damaged volume consists mostly of spruce, which makes up 61 percent of the damaged forest. Pine accounts for 35 percent and broadleaf for 4 percent. The proportion of pine is slightly higher than normal in storm damage.
- The storm came late in the season, which means that we need to work quickly to take care of the storm-fallen timber to reduce the risk of damaged spruce becoming a breeding ground for spruce bark beetles. We therefore urge everyone affected by the storm to quickly inventory their forest and contact their advisor to plan remediation, says Kim Gunnarsson, Head of Raw Material Supply at Södra.
To meet the needs in the most affected areas, Södra will relocate personnel and redirect harvesting resources and truck capacity. At the same time, the harvesting rate may temporarily decrease in areas with minor storm damage. This is due partly to the need to prioritize storm-felled timber, and partly to a lower industrial demand for sawn timber during the period.
Work is now continuing with the planning and implementation of the processing of the storm-felled forest. Södra is closely monitoring developments and is continuously adapting resources and working methods to create the greatest possible benefit for all members.
