European Union

20 October 2008

20-24 October 2008: European Forest Week Forest covers 42% of the EU27 land area EU27 roundwood production up by 20% between 2001 and 2006

In 2005, forests and other wooded land covered 177 million hectares in the EU27, or 42% of its land area. The largest area covered with forests and other wooded land was found in Sweden (31 mn hectares or 75% of its land area), Spain (28 mn or 57%), Finland (23 mn or 77%), France (17 mn or 31%), Germany (11 mn or 32%) and Italy (11 mn or 37%). Together these six Member States accounted for more than two thirds of total forest area in the EU27.

In connection with European Forest Week1, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, presents a selection of statistics concerning forestry in the EU27. European Forest Week, which takes place between 20-24 October 2008 highlights the contribution of European forests in mitigating climate change, providing wood and renewable energy. It is jointly organised by the European Commission, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), in close collaboration with the French Presidency of the EU Council.

Finland, Sweden and Slovenia have the highest proportion of land covered by forests

The Member States with the largest proportion of their land area covered by forest and other wooded land in 2005 were Finland (77%), Sweden (75%) and Slovenia (65%), while the lowest shares were found in Malta (1%), Ireland (10%), the Netherlands (11%) and the United Kingdom (12%).

In the EU27, 73% of the forest (129 million hectares) was available for wood supply in 2005. Among the six Member States with the largest area covered by forests and other wooded land, the proportion of forest available for wood supply varied from 37% in Spain and 69% in Sweden to 99% in Germany and 86% in Finland.

In 2005, the forest available for wood supply produced a net annual increment2 of 764 million m3 in the EU27, of which 461 million m3 or 60% were felled.

Forest area, net annual increment and fellings, 2005

Forest & other wooded land

Forest available for wood supply

Net annual increment

Fellings

Fellings, % of net annual increment

million ha

% of land area

million ha

% of forest

million m3
(over bark)

million m3
(over bark)

%

EU27**
177.0
42
129.2
73
764.0*
460.8*
60*
Belgium
0.7
23
0.7
96
5.3
4.5
85
Bulgaria

3.7
34
2.6
70
14.1
5.8
41
Czech Republic
2.6
34
2.5
95
20.5
17.2
84
Denmark
0.6
15
0.4
61
5.2

1.8
35
Germany***
11.1
32
11.0*
99*
122.0*
60.8
50*
Estonia

2.4
56
2.1
89
11.0
5.7
52
Ireland
0.7
10
0.7
92
:
:
:
Greece
6.5
51

3.5
53
3.8*

1.8
48*
Spain
28.2
57
10.5*
37*
28.6*
19.1
67*
France
17.3
31
14.7
85
102.5
56.6
55
Italy
11.0
37
8.9
81
38.3
10.1
26
Cyprus
0.4
42
0.0
11
0.0
0.0
16
Latvia
3.1
51

2.8
90
16.5
11.3
68
Lithuania
2.2
35

1.8
83
9.9
7.2
73
Luxembourg
0.1
34
0.1
98
0.7
0.2
38
Hungary

1.9
22

1.7
86
12.9
7.2
56
Malta
0.0

1

-

-

-

-

-
Netherlands
0.4
11
0.3
81

2.2

1.6
70
Austria

4.0
48

3.4
84
31.3*
18.8*
60*
Poland***
9.2
30
8.4
91
67.6
37.2
55
Portugal
3.9
42

2.0*
52*
12.9*
13.3
103*
Romania
6.6
29

4.6*
70*
34.6
15.9
46
Slovenia

1.3
65

1.2
88
7.3

3.2
44
Slovakia

1.9

40

1.8

91

12.0

9.0

75
Finland

23.3

77

20.0

86

92.9

64.5

69
Sweden

30.9

75

21.2

69

91.4

78.1

86
United Kingdom

2.9

12

2.4
83
20.7
9.9
48

Source: MCPFE/UNECE/FAO State of Europe's Forests 2007 : Data not available

- Very small amount

* Estimated value

** Ireland excluded for net annual increment and fellings
*** Data do not cover other wooded land

Sweden, Germany and France were the largest producers of roundwood in 2006

Roundwood production3 comprises all wood removed from the forest and other wooded land. In the EU27, roundwood production has increased by nearly 20% between 2001 and 2006, to reach 426 million m3, although this was down from the 454 million m3 recorded in 2005. The largest producers of roundwood in 2006 were Sweden (65 million m3), Germany and France (both 62 mn m3), Finland (51 mn m3) and Poland (32 mn m3), which together accounted for nearly two thirds of EU27 production.

Sawlogs and veneer logs, which are used in the production of sawnwood and veneer sheets, made up nearly half of total EU27 roundwood production in 2006. 30% of roundwood production was pulpwood, which is used in the production of pulp, particle board and fibreboard. One fifth of the production was fuelwood, which is used as fuel for heating, power production and cooking.

The highest production of sawlogs and veneer logs was registered in Germany (38 million m3), Sweden (32 mn m3) and Finland (22 mn m3). The main producers of pulpwood were Sweden (27 mn m3), Finland (24 mn m3) and Poland (14 mn m3). The highest production of fuelwood was recorded in France (33 mn m3), Germany (8 mn m3) and Sweden (6 mn m3).

Total roundwood production3

Total production in million m3

Production of major products in million m3 in 2006**

2001

2005

2006

Sawlogs and veneer logs

Pulpwood

Fuelwood

EU27
358.3
454.1
426.3*
195.2
128.2
88.9*
Belgium

4.2*

5.0

5.1

2.8

1.4
0.7
Bulgaria

4.0

5.9

6.0*

1.3*

1.7*

2.9*
Czech Republic

14.4

15.5

17.7

9.8

6.4

1.3
Denmark

1.6

3.0

2.4
0.7
0.5

1.2
Germany

39.5

56.9

62.3

38.3

12.9

8.3
Estonia

10.2

5.5

5.4

2.8

1.5

1.1
Ireland

2.5

2.6

2.7

1.8
0.8
0.0
Greece

1.9

1.5

1.5*
0.4*
0.0*

1.0*
Spain

15.1

15.5

15.7

5.9

7.5

1.6
France

39.8

63.2

61.8

18.6

9.6

33.2
Italy

8.1

8.7

8.6

1.2
0.8

5.6
Cyprus
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Latvia

12.8

12.8

12.8

8.4

2.7

1.0
Lithuania

5.7

6.0

5.9

3.3

1.1

1.2
Luxembourg
0.3
0.2
0.3
0.2*
0.1*
0.0*
Hungary

5.8

5.9

5.9

1.2
0.5

3.2
Malta
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Netherlands
0.9

1.1

1.1
0.4
0.3
0.3
Austria

13.5

16.5

19.1

11.5

2.9

4.7
Poland
25.0
31.9
32.4
13.1
13.6
3.6
Portugal
8.9
10.7
10.8
2.5
7.5
0.6
Romania
12.4
14.5
14.0
6.4
0.8

4.5
Slovenia
2.3
2.7
3.2

1.7
0.4

1.0
Slovakia

5.8

9.3
7.9
4.1
2.7
0.3
Finland
52.5
52.3
50.8
21.9
23.6

5.3
Sweden
63.2
98.2
64.6
31.7
26.5
5.9
United Kingdom
7.9
8.5
8.4
5.3
2.4
0.3
Russia
164.7
185.0
190.6
73.8
56.0
46.0
Canada
185.9
211.5
205.9
168.0
31.1
2.8
United States
449.1
467.3
472.6
256.0
162.8
44.8

Source: Eurostat

* Estimated value


** The production of other industrial roundwood is not presented in the table. It equals about 3% of total EU27 roundwood production.


1. For more information about the European forest week please visit: www.europeanforestweek.org/home/en/

2. Net annual increment is defined as gross increment less natural losses over a given period. Gross increment is the average volume of growth of all trees (all diameters, down to a defined minimum) over a given period. It is reported in cubic metres overbark i.e. including bark. The recruitment of small trees is included when they reach the minimum diameter.

3. Roundwood production, a synonymous term for "removals", comprises all quantities of wood removed from the forest and other wooded land or other felling site during a certain period of time. It is reported in cubic metres underbark i.e. excluding bark.

Issued by: Eurostat Press Office

Johan WULLT
Tel: +352-4301-33 444
mailto:eurostat-pressoffice@ec.europa.eu

For further information on data:

Marilise WOLF-CROWTHER
Tel: +352-4301-32 872
mailto:maria.wolf-crowther@ec.europa.eu

Eurostat News Releases on the Internet: ec.europa.eu/eurostat