Export of wood products
Wood harvest
Growing stock
Land affected
by forestry activities
Forest
regeneration
Export of wood products
The contribution of forestry to the export balance indicates
the importance of wood products in the economy. Since the mid
1990's, the contribution to export has been 30-40%, and has even
exceeded 40% in the last two years.
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Wood harvest
Wood harvest has significantly increased in Latvia
since the beginning of the 1990's. In 2000, 11 million m3
wood was harvested, which was 2.5 times more than in 1991. Wood
harvest has reached 67% of the annual increment, estimated at 16.5
million m3. The largest part of wood harvested is in
privately owned forests.
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Growing stock
In 2000, the total growing stock in Latvia reached
546 million m3, which was three times bigger than the 1935
estimates. The volume of wood has increased due to an increase in
forested land area, and in improvement of forest productivity by
various methods (planting, promotion of natural regeneration,
thinning, tree breeding and land drainage).
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Land affected by forestry
activities
Forestry activities significantly change forest
ecosystems. Forest harvest alters the microclimate and soil moisture
regime, creating unsuitable conditions for the typical forest
species. Forest activities such as movement of persons and vehicles
through forests, and noise from chain saws, disturbs animals,
particularly nesting birds. After 1994, the land area affected by
forest activities rapidly increased, and had increased by 355% in
1999 compared to that in 1991. The greatest increase, beginning in
1995, has been in the area harvested as intermediate cuts, mainly as
thinnings. The obtained wood yield from thinning cuts is relatively
small.
Wood harvest does not always negatively affect
biological diversity. Natural disturbances (fire, wind throw,
flooding) in forests can also affect species. These natural
disturbances have also a beneficial effect, as species requiring sun
light, open areas, young stands, and warmer temperatures, can
develop. Clear cuts to a certain extent resemble forest fires, and
thinning and sanitary cuts are similar to wind-damaged areas.
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Forest regeneration
Forests in Latvia are regenerated after harvest
naturally or they are planted. In 2000, 25,300 ha of forest were
regenerated, among which the proportion naturally regenerated
exceeded by almost twice the planted area. The regenerated area is
sufficient in State forests, but on private land, the level of
regeneration can be much improved, even though it has been
increasing.
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