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 Week, 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
increment of 764 million m3 in the EU27, of which 461 million m3 or 60%
were felled.
Sweden, Germany and France were the largest producers of roundwood in 2006
Roundwood production 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).
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