Epsilon Open Archive

Abstract

In Fennoscandia, mechanized tree planting is time-efficient and produces high-qualityregeneration. However, because of low cost-efficiency, the mechanization of Fennoscandian treeplanting has been struggling. To determine key factors for its future growth, we comparedthe operational, planning, logistical, and organizational characteristics of mechanized plantingin Sweden and Finland. Through interviews with planting machine contractors and client companyforesters, we establish that mechanized tree planting in Sweden and Finland presently sharesmore similarities than differences. Some notable differences include typically longer plantingseasons in Sweden, and a tendency towards two-shift operation and less frequent worksitepre-inspection by contractors in Finland. Because of similar challenges, mechanized planting in bothcountries can improve cost-efficiency through education of involved foresters, flexible informationsystems, efficient seedling logistics, and continued technical development of planting machines.By striving to have multiple client companies, contractors can reduce their operating radii andincrease their machine utilization rates. Above all, our results provide international readers withunprecedented detailed and comprehensive figures and characteristics of Swedish and Finnishmechanized tree-planting activities. We conclude that cooperation between Sweden’s and Finland’sforest industries and research institutes could enhance the mechanization level of Fennoscandiantree planting.