The Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature is of the opinion that there are not enough forest fires in Norway. The Society wants more controlled forest fires in both State owned and in private forests in order to study biodiversity. The Norwegian Forest Owners’ Federation finds this a very bad idea.
Some want more forest fires!
The Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature is of the opinion that there are not enough forest fires in Norway. The Society wants more controlled forest fires in both State owned and in private forests in order to study biodiversity. The Norwegian Forest Owners’ Federation finds this a very bad idea.
The Forest Owners’ Federation understands the desire to conduct research on how vegetation evolves after forest fires. However, the Federation thinks that in that case fires shall be started in nature reserves and in national parks and not in private forests, where timber production is a priority issue. Furthermore, there is already quite enough burned forest areas where research on vegetation can be pursued. Each summer there will be new “naturally” burned areas.
The Forest Owners’ Federation has no understanding for the Society’s argument that forest fires would be one way to get an increased amount of deciduous forests. Recent data from the national forest survey prove that there has never been so much deciduous forests in Norway than at present. For example, the quantity of birch has tripled in the last forty years.
If the Society for the Conservation of Nature is successful in its demands for controlled forest fires in private forests, the Forest Owners’ Federation will demand full compensation for loss of timber and production. If the State does not pay full compensation, hardly any forest owners will open up parts of their forests for burning.