Gran parte del territorio finlandese e’ ricoperto di foreste commerciali, cioe’ sfruttate dall’uomo a scopi industriali: produzione di legna da ardere, legname per mobili o gli usi piu’ vari e cellulosa per la carta. Le dinamiche della foresta commerciale sono a grandi linee le seguenti: gli alberi vengono tagliati ogni 50, 60, 70 anni, poiche’ questo e’ il periodo impiegato per raggiungere un diametro del tronco soddisfacente e adatto allo scopo; ma nel tempo vengono piu’ volte sfoltiti, per agevolare la crescita, far si’ che ci sia luce e nutrimento per tutti e che diventino diritti e massicci. Dopo il taglio, la foresta viene rimboschita e si ricomincia il ciclo vitale.
Le operazioni di sfoltimento e taglio completo del bosco possono essere effettuate dai proprietari, se sono in grado, oppure dalle industrie forestali, incaricate direttamente dai proprietari. In molti casi le foreste sono di proprieta’ statale.
Torneremo ancora molte volte sull’argomento, anche perche’ le cose da spiegare sono molte; ma per darvi un’idea di come la foresta venga abbattuta, ho realizzato un breve video, nel quale vedete la potente macchina che taglia l’albero, elimina i rami e seziona il tronco in pezzi adatti al trasporto:
Il titolo del post e’ copiato da questo bel libro di Carlo Cassola.
Cutting the forest. As already said, a huge portion of the Finnish territory is covered with commercial forests, exploited by man for industrial use: timber for firewood or for building, furniture…or paper. The life of a commercial forest is about 50 to 70 years, after which the forest is totally cut: this is the time requested for trees to get big enough. During its life, the forest is constantly taken care: from time to time some trees are cut to make space and allow others find light and nutrition to grow higher, stronger and bigger. After the final cut, trees are re-planted and the circle starts again.
The forest is taken care or cut by its owners, if they are able to, or by forest companies who have contracts with owners. Many hectars of forests in Finland belong to the state.
Many aspects of this subject are still worth discussing, so I’ll post more in the future. Now, just to give you an idea of how forest machines work nowadays, you can watch this short video I took; each tree is cut from the roots, deprived of its branches and bark and pulled to pieces ready for transportation.
The title of the post comes from the above novel by Carlo Cassola.
****
Linked to: Image-in-ing.
…I see similar sights here. Machine instead of men.
LikeLiked by 1 person
More exploitation of natural environment, more haste, more money…That’s it, nowadays.
LikeLike
Hello, I have mixed feeling about tree cutting. I guess if the trees are commercially grown it has to be Ok. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your day and weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is…as long as they are replaced by new ones – and wood is an excellent material for human use. Thanks, kind Eileen and happy weekend!
LikeLike
I would like to know how the owners manage the woodland for wildlife in the spring, summer autumn and winter. Large forests often get a bad name but I know there are good stories too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a huge industry, maybe even the biggest in FInland? I suppose new trees will be planted again.
Those machines are so powerful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A clearcut forest – the socalled avohakkuu – is a sad sight. But the ugly scenery soon remends itself while new trees are being planted. The smell of new cut pines is wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Basically they let the trees grow and wild animals can move freely… there is a lot of wildlife in Finnish woodlands. Thanks for stopping by!
LikeLike
Yes, new trees are planted almost immediately… also because time is money! Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
You are right… the smell is something! It’s like when you carry in the Christmas tree. 🙂
LikeLike
mi fa male al cuore vedere esseri viventi straordinari come gli alberi trasformati in profitto, è un problema mondiale, insito nell’animo di molti uomini. Visti come oggetti, non esseri viventi dotati di linfa, voglia di vivere, antiche saggezza…è lo stesso dell’allevamento animale intensivo: ATROCE
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is some serious timbering going on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is. Industrial timbering. Thanks for your visit!
LikeLike
Cara Margot, basterebbe che noi umani fossimo meno spreconi, per esempio di carta, per far durare di più le foreste. In Finlandia cmq esistono moltissimi parchi naturali e zone protette, dove gli alberi vengono lasciati vivere e morire senza interventi umani e dove la fauna se la gode…seguiranno altri post su questi argomenti. Buona domenica e grazie di seguirmi!
LikeLiked by 2 people
e si, hai ragione, il mio ragionamento vale per l’essere umano in generis, per la sua mancanza di amore per la Natura…qui in Italia sicuramente è ben peggio…buona domenica a te, seguirti è un grande piacere!
LikeLiked by 1 person
it is always sad to see a tree cut down, but we need wood, good that they are replacing each tree. it breaks my heart when trees are cut down for no reason. like the tree for new york city each year, gorgeous trees, decades old, cut down to display for 1 month, then discarded!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right, when trees are cut down for no reason it is sad…
LikeLike
If managed properly commercial forests are a good use of the environment
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they must be taken constant care. Unfortunately man cannot survive without wood. Thanks for your visit!
LikeLike
Macchinario fenomenale! quando è necessario il taglio dei boschi ben venga la tecnologia se può migliorare e salvaguardare l’uomo nel suo lavoro
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Luisella, your posts are becoming more interesting all the time!
Very good photos, and the video, of a highly important topic.
As a treehugger AND a forest owner, I’m very much looking forward to your posts. 🙂
Baci!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was interesting to see that tree cutting machine at work in this tree farm. It seems like a long cycle to wait 50 to 70 years to harvest a tree, in a tree farm. but they are still young when that happens.as trees can live mnay hundreds of years!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course you can cut them even earlier, but they are good only for fire. Thanks for that expression: “tree farm”…that it is. Thank you, Pat!
LikeLike
Dear Sara…they will not always be so interesting: sometimes there will be mere photography, as you know! 😉 But mind tomorrow’s post: that will be particularly interesting for you…eheheh! Hugs!!
LikeLike
Ciao cara, “fenomenale” è la parola giusta! Davvero impressionante: potente e veloce. Buono a sapersi…
LikeLike
Cara Luisella. ci mandi alcuni di quei “macchinari fenomenali”? Ne avremmo un gran bisogno qui…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ho visto…seguo con apprensione le vicende del maltempo e spero che migliori in fretta! Anche in Fin un caldo anomalo, comunque: 10 gradi!
LikeLike