Silvicultural and forest improvement work 2024

In 2024, just over EUR 270 million was spent on silvicultural and forest improvement works. In real terms, total expenditure decreased by 2% compared to the previous year. The work volume declined in nearly all categories, except for early pre-commercial thinning, and health fertilization, which increased.

• The cost of silvicultural work amounted to approximately EUR 214 million, accounting for 79%, while forest improvement work accounted for around €56 million, or 21%. Forest improvement includes fertilization, remedial ditching, basic improvement and construction of forest roads.
• Approximately 20,400 hectares of regeneration areas were cleared, which is 25% less than the average of the previous five years. Initial clearing for thinning operations was carried out on about 84,200 hectares (-6%).
• Soil preparation decreased by 7% compared to previous years, totalling 91,000 hectares. Most of this area (approximately 66,000 hectares) was prepared using mounding.
• Artificial regeneration covered approximately 85,800 hectares, representing an 11% decrease from previous years. Seeding accounted for 23% and planting for 77% of the total area.
• Early pre-commercial thinning (early clearing) was carried out on approximately 56,000 hectares (+6%), and later pre-commercial thinning (seedling thinning) on about 71,000 hectares (-8%). Improvement of young stands declined to 27,300 hectares (-26%).
• The area of prescribed burning returned to previous levels after 2023, with around 560 hectares burned (-31%).
• Approximately EUR 28 million (+10%) was spent on the construction and improvement of forest roads. However, the total length of roads built or improved was only 1,800 kilometres (-20%).
• Around EUR 1.9 million (-50%) was spent on remedial ditching, with the total length of work falling below 1,800 kilometres (-64%).

All percentage changes are based on comparisons with the average values from the previous five years. All temporal cost comparisons are based on real values (deflated using the Cost-of-Living Index 1951:10=100).

Data from year 2023 corrected on 18.6.2025.​​​

Read more on the page Changes and corrections in the statistics.

The statistics on silvicultural and forest improvement work include activities carried out in privately owned forests, company-owned forests, and state forests. Since 2015, the statistics have excluded self-directed work by private forest owners. From 2023 onwards, the statistics no longer include work carried out by forest owners themselves under the supervision of forest management associations. Data on stump treatment for root rot prevention has not been recorded for the years 2022–2024. 

The silvicultural and forest improvement statistics are published alongside data on planned harvesting areas, based on the Finnish Forest Centre’s harvesting method statistics.