Estonian forest logging volumes projected to decline

A forecast by the Estonian Environmental Agency indicates that current logging volumes in Estonia cannot be sustained in the long term. The projections, based on the 2024 Statistical Forest Inventory, suggest that the area of mature and maturing stands will decrease by 10–20% over the next 20 years for most tree species.

The greatest pressure is expected to come from private forests, where the regeneration opportunities for pine, alder, and particularly spruce are projected to decline in the coming decades. This shift poses a direct challenge to the wood processing industry, as regeneration areas provide the majority of raw materials for the sawmill and plywood sectors.

In state-managed forests, the area for regeneration has already been decreasing. While resources might theoretically allow current logging volumes to be maintained for another 20–30 years, this is subject to official restrictions and internal management rules.