The forests

Öijared is characterised by its broad leaved deciduous forest, with oak and lime. A lot of hazel, birch, maple, elm, beech and larch grow here too, but the forests consist mainly of fir and pine.

Forestry

Öijared’s foundation is forestry, with 1300 hectares of productive forest. We work with a long term strategy regarding planting, clearing, thinning out and felling. The forest produces pine and fir timber for sawmills, fretsaw timber, pulpwood and wood to burn for our own use. Our forestry operations provide more than just timber production, for long-term economically sustainable returns.

It also creates employment in the local area, the preservation and promotion of areas of cultural and natural worth, biodiversity, environments for nature recreation, and good conditions for hunting, fishing, mushroom and berry picking. And equally important is that the forest, by absorbing carbon dioxide, helps reduce the greenhouse effect. Öijared’s forestry operations are PEFC and FSC certified. This guarantees that our forests are managed responsibly and that we operate in an environmentally responsible way.

Nature conservation

In order to develop a good environment for land use in the long term, insights into the land’s biological factors are required, regarding for example, climate zone, soil and wind conditions. We keep the edge of the forest open, and leave areas to provide cover for wildlife. When we thin, clear and re-plant, we take into account the specific character of each area.

The natural surroundings dictate which variety of tree we plant. As a result of Öijared’s conservation agreement, we have been able to give mosses, lichens, plants, red listed beetles and birds improved chances for continued development and growth.

Forest debris

After felling operations we always leave some deadwood, fallen trees and high stumps for insects and birds to make homes in. The dead wood that in the past was always for household use stays nowadays on the forest floor to rot.

As a result, walking in the forest can sometimes feel laborious, but it is of enormous value to birds for instance, that they get the food they need. One single oak trunk left to rot as deadwood is estimated to contain around 5000 insects.

Bioenergy

Bioenergy is an important part of the transition to a global long-term sustainable energy consumption. We use steadily increasing amounts of bioenergy as part of our overall energy consumption at Öijared and our ambition is that eventually, all heating will come from our own forestry in the form of wood chip from logging brash and wood biomass.

Biomass is taken out of the forests at the same time as they are felled, or as separate wood waste from thinning. The biomass is then turned into chippings that are used in our own thermal power station. Logging brash is quite simply the waste from felling operations. It is collected together after felling and laid in piles to dry. After it is dried it is chipped and used to produce heating.