To commission a forest protection expert assessment, the forest owner shall submit to the Environmental Board a forest notification of forest damages:
- For reforestation of a forest perished due to major damages caused by storm, flood, extensive forest fire or any other force of nature
- Forest with a poor state of health due to natural factors
- Of a stand with a poor phenotype
- A stand with a small basal area and crop density due to a reason independent of the forest owner.
A forest is deemed to be seriously damaged if, due to the damage as of the pole stand development class, the basal area of the upper layer of the viable trees is below the minimum rate of the basal area of the upper layer of the stand permitted following thinning (Basis: § 41 (2) of the Forest Act).
A forest owner can also submit an application to the Environmental Board regarding the occurrence of forest damage if a forest notification cannot be submitted. If possible, a forest protection expert assessment is prepared for the entire damaged area at once, and the employees of the Environmental Board prepare a report on the forest protection expert assessment.
Application for forest protection expert assessment
Forest notification in case of forest damage
In case of significant forest damage, the forest owner can submit a forest notification.
more about forest notificationA forest protection expert assessment report includes:
- The reasons for conducting the expert assessment
- Assessment of the condition of the forest
- Expert opinion, if possible, recommendations for forest protection activities.
- The minister responsible for the field will establish the procedure for the commissioning and conducting forest protection expert assessment in the rules of forest management.
- The results of the forest protection expert assessment are communicated no later than within 30 working days after the receipt of the forest notification of forest damage, application of the landowner or other information on forest damage (Basis: § 41 (15) of the Forest Act.
- A forest owner may perform cutting, in compliance with the forest protection expert assessment, within 12 months following the registration of the forest protection expert assessment in the forest register.
The most common forest damage
Storm
Storm damage accounts for the largest share of forest damage. In addition to storm-breakage, wind-thrown, storm-mangled trees, damage to insect pests may also increase as a result of the storm. Uncleaned storm damage in spruce wood contributes to the spread of spruce bark beetles.
Game
A significant part of the forest damage is caused by game damage. The main damage in our forests is caused by elk, roe deer and red deer, which peel trees, break treetops and lop branches.
The forest is also harmed by a beaver who changes the water regime, causing flooding in large areas that results in forest death.
Spruce bark beetle
A significant damage in spruce woods is caused by a spruce bark beetle who usually lives on sick and weakened trees. In a forest damaged by storms, wind, drought or fungal diseases, its numbers can grow very large, and then spruce bark beetles can also occupy viable spruce trees. Spruce bark beetle can develop two generations per year under favourable conditions.
Last updated: 29.11.2022
