OREANDA-NEWS. July 24, 2013. In 2012, the average forest regeneration costs in Latvia comprised LVL 275 - LVL 418 (USD 513,155- USD 780) per hectare, depending on the forest land quality group. In 2011, these costs accounted for LVL 313 - LVL 435 (USD 584- USD 812) per hectare, as Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia reported.

Average costs of forest regeneration per hectare include expenditure on soil preparation, small sapling expenses and planting costs. The highest soil preparation and planting costs in 2012 were recorded in the forests with the 2nd quality group forest land (includes pine forest, Callunosa mel., Callunosa turf.mel., Vaccinioso-sphagnosa, Myrtilloso-sphagnosa, Myrtilloso politrichosa, Caricoso-phragmitosa, fen, Filipendulosa;); while the lowest – in the forests with the 1st quality group forest land (includes poor pine forest on wet, pine forest on peat soil).

Forest tending costs in Latvia on average comprised LVL 121 - LVL 148 (USD 226- USD 276) per hectare; they include agro-technical tending of forest and tending of young growths. In 2012, the greatest forest tending costs were recorded in the forests with the 4th quality group forest land (includes Myrtilloso-sphagnosa, spruce forest, rich deciduous forest, Myrtillosa mel., Myrtillosa turf. Mel., Mercurialiosa met., Oxalidosa turf. Mel.).

Harvesting costs refer to the final felling, where part of the forest is felled almost completely, and to intermediate felling (thinning, conversion cutting, sanitary cutting), where cutting is made partly. Each of the felling types includes wood preparation, transportation to the road and transportation to the purchase place.

The total value of the harvesting costs in both final felling and intermediate felling are formed by the labour costs, transportation costs, including, costs of the machinery used. In 2012, the average harvesting costs (per one timber cubic meter) in the final felling constituted LVL 12.09 (USD 22.6), while in the intermediate felling – LVL 14.06 (USD 26).

Wood cutting in the intermediate felling is performed by sampling the trees; therefore total harvesting costs in this felling type are higher, as compared to the final felling, where almost all trees are cut. In comparison with 2011, the total harvesting costs in the final felling in 2012 have remained at the previous year’s level, whereas in the intermediate felling they have dropped by 4.9%, as compared to 2011.