Ministry: Slovakia's Forest Cover Accounts for about 41% of Total Area

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) - The area of forest land reached 2.03 million hectares last year, while the forest cover represents 41.4 percent of Slovakia's total area, stated the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, adding that deciduous tree species had a greater share of 65 percent, while the remainder, 35 percent, was made up of coniferous trees. The stock of wood on forest land amounts to 487 million cubic metres, which testifies to the stability and quality of our forests. "Forest regeneration was carried out on an area of 10,000 hectares, with natural regeneration accounting for 37 percent. This trend is important for moving towards nature-friendly management, which ensures more stable and resilient forests. Timber harvesting in 2023 amounted to 7.2 million cubic metres, almost 0.5 million cubic metres less than the previous year. This decrease is a continuation of the trend of decreasing logging in recent years," said the Agriculture Ministry. The ministry further stated that of the above-mentioned volume of timber harvesting, approximately 3.5 million cubic metres was harvested to eliminate the consequences of harmful agents in forests, with the greatest damage in Slovak forests being caused by bark beetles and wood-destroying insects. The ministry concluded that the forestry sector achieved an economic result of €68 million last year. Total public support to the forestry sector amounted to approximately €31.1 million, but high investment debt persists, added the Agriculture Ministry. am/mcs