In Finland, active forest management has increased both the carbon sink and carbon storage of forests. Carbon storage has increased, because forests now have more wood than a hundred years ago, when the first national forest inventory was carried out. The carbon sink has also grown because our forests now grow better and more densely than before.
As a forest owner, you maintain the carbon sinks of forests by managing your forest well. The measures described on this page will help you to continue to look after your forest’s carbon sink.
Regenerate rapidly
In forest regeneration, speed is also an advantage for the enhancement of carbon sinks. The sooner you establish a new forest, the faster the trees can start sequestering carbon again. Replace a felled forest with a new one as quickly as possible to minimise the treeless and sparsely wooded phase. In the best case, a well-managed seedling stand in southern Finland becomes a carbon sink at the young age of 15. Good soil preparation, high-quality seedlings and seeds, as well as proper planting or sowing ensure that forest growth gets off to a flying start.