Norra skog, which represents many forest owners and forest machine operators, are now critical of the fact that it takes over a month before they can start clearing away trees that were felled during storm Hans. They believe that the Norwegian Forestry Agency should allow exceptions to the rules because the trees need to be taken care of – preferably before winter comes.
Norra skog’s contractors have removed fallen trees from roads and houses, but they are not allowed to take care of the rest of all trees that are downed by storms in the forest.
– We have done what we have to, in this area we have cleared trees from the road and removed trees that are on houses, but now we are not allowed to continue, says Conny Olsson, forest machine driver hired by the member organization Norra skog.
The work of removing the storm-felled trees will take about a year. But the longer they lie, the greater the risk that the wood cannot be sold. And now the work is delayed because the Forest Protection Act states that the application for felling must be made six weeks before the work begins, and this also applies to forest felled by storms.
Must be done according to the law
Joel Reisek, supervisory specialist at the Norwegian Forestry Agency says that it is important to be able to check that the felling will take place in line with the legislation.
– We need to know that the necessary considerations are taken and that we do not cause unnecessary damage to the environment, he says.
Could it be that the trees in certain places must remain, that they must not be taken out of the forest?
– Yes, it may be that the damage from them remaining is less than the benefit, because dead wood is something that is important for the natural environment, says Joel Reisek at the Norwegian Forestry Agency.
Can apply for exemption
The forest owners can apply for a dispensation so that the work can start faster, but then they must fulfill three points. One has already been fulfilled, i.e. that felling could not be planned. The other two points are that the felling must entail a tangible advantage for forestry and the environment and it must not be assumed that the felling leads to disadvantages for the environment.
Forest machine operator Conny Olsson knows how to take care of forest felled by storms, and he believes that it is important that the work gets started:
– Yes, this is a shame, it’s so much work and to get it done before the winter when it starts to snow and the wood freezes, it would be great to start now, right away, he says.