Trends of European Forest Resources on the Basis of the FAO/ECE Timber Committee Resource Assessments

1993

10 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

2767

200040927

Europe's forest area has increased 5 mill. ha since the late 1960s. The growing stock has increased 43% and the net annual increment 55% in exploitable forests since 1950. A part of the increase is caused by sampling inventories, which have been made in greater part of countries. Sampling inventories have corrected earlier underestimates of the growing stock and the increment. The difference between the annual net increment and fellings has increased since 1950. The net increment, 584 mill. Kubikmeter, exceeded fellings, 408 mill. Kubikmeter, by 176 mill. Kubikmeter, in exploitable forests in 1990. If fellings could be increased to equal the increment, Europe would be an exporter of forest products. A great increase in the density, in the age and in the mean volume of forests per hectare threaten the biological stability of the growing stock. Degrading of stock, increasing natural losses and deteriorating environmental qualities of forests can only be prevented by increased fellings and by forest regeneration.