In 2023, 431 million seedlings were delivered, which is an increase of 9 million (2%) compared to 2022. It is however 21 million seedlings less than the peak year 2021, according to the Swedish Forest Agency.
The number of Scots pine seedlings has increased steadily since 2013. In 2023 the number of delivered seedlings of Scots pine was 236 million, which was an increase of 7 million seedlings, compared to 2022. The number of delivered Norway spruce seedlings was just over 176 million in 2023, which is unchanged compared to 2022.
Norway spruce and Scots pine seedlings together constitute 96% of the total number of forest seedlings delivered. Delivered Lodgepole pine seedlings represent 1.9% and larch 1.1%. Sitka spruce, birch and seedlings of other conifers and broadleaf species each make up less than 0.8% of the number of forest seedlings delivered.
Origin
In 2023, delivered seedlings originating from Swedish seed-orchards amounted to 88%, which is an increase of 4% from 2022. Seedlings of Scots pine and Lodgepole pine almost solely (96% and 98% respectively) originate from Swedish seed-orchards. The proportion of Norway spruce seedlings originating from Swedish seed-orchards increased from 74% in 2022 to 82% in 2023.
Forest seedlings and seeds imported to Sweden for forest sowing
During 2022 just over 58.9 million seedlings were imported to Sweden from other countries. This means that 14% of delivered seedlings in 2022 (out of 422 million seedlings in total) had at least partly been produced outside Sweden. (It is uncertain whether the plants were delivered the same year they were imported.) The import of seeds shows significant variation over time, both in terms of quantity and type of species. The import of seed in 2022 was 271 kilogram in total.
