Description and information content

Forest resources contains data derived from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) on the surface areas, growing stock volume, biomass, growth, forest health, biodiversity, and felling potential based on NFI data.

The most recent results relevant to forest resources are published cover both the national and regional level. The results of previous inventories are usually presented on national level only. The most recent results are based on the measurements of NFI 11, which was carried out during 2009–2013. Information about earlier inventories is available in Finnish Statistical Yearbooks of Forestry. http://www.metla.fi/metinfo/tilasto/julkaisut/vsk/index.html

Categories

Data on forest resources is presented on national and regional levels. Based on the timber production capability, the data are categorised into forest land, poorly productive forest land, and unproductive land.  Most of the published data relate to forests growing in forest land and poorly productive forest land.

Data collection methods, and source of information

The forest resource data are based on the National Forest Inventories that have been conducted in Finland since the 1920s. The NFI materials comprise data samples that cover all of Finland. In the current system, one inventory measures almost 60 000 sample plots and 500 000 trees on forestry land in the course of five years.

Felling potential estimates are based on the maximum roundwood removals that are sustainable in terms of wood production, with calculations based on the data derived from NFI 11 (years 2009–2013) and carried out by the regional Forestry Centres using the MELA programme produced by the Natural Resources Institute Finland. Sustainability has been calculated to mean a 50-year period during which roundwood removals and the net profit of wood production will remain at the same level or increase. Forest management should comply with the Forestry Recommendations issued by Tapio in 2014, and the calculations take into account the limitations set forth by official conservation decisions and the restrictions on wood production based on the decisions by the State Forest Enterprise.

Update frequency

The National Forest Inventory is carried out every 5 years.

Preparation or publication schedule

New results can usually be calculated annually by using the most recent measuring data, but decisions on publishing the results are made separately each year, and they depend on the situation. The next publication of new results will take place in August 2017.

Time series

National Forest Inventories by the Finnish Forest Research Institute have been carried out since the 1920s. The presently ongoing inventory is the 12th:

NFI 1, 1921–1924

NFI 2, 1936–1938

NFI 3, 1951–1953

NFI 4, 1960–1963

NFI 5, 1964–1970

NFI 6, 1971–1976

NFI 7, 1977–1984

NFI 8, 1986–1994

NFI 9, 1996–2003

NFI 10, 2004–2008

NFI 11, 2009–2013

NFI 12, 2014–2018

Keywords

Forest resources, National Forest Inventory, NFI, Forestry statistics, forest surface areas, growing stock volume, growing stock increment, forest damages, cutting possibilities

Statistics keywords

Cutting possibilities Mineral soils forest land silviculture forest owners forest ownership Forestry land Growing stock increment Growing stock mean increment Growing stock mean volume Peatlands

Responsible person for the statistics
Vaahtera, Eeva
029 532 2019
Information service
+358 29 532 2200
Updated
27.04.2017