Final felling has a great impact, but on a limited area

The impact of final felling on the forest is naturally always dramatic. However, in Finland final felling is only carried out on less than one percent of the forest area each year. Thus, their impact on the entire forest environment is not fatal in itself.

Final felling benefits viable species which demand plenty of light but are otherwise not very demanding as to their habitats. These are often pioneers, that is, species which will first colonise areas which have lost their vegetation through storms, fires or forest felling. They include deciduous trees, many grasses, and among mosses the Pohlia nutans and the juniper hair cap moss (Polytrichum juniperinum). Raspberry thrives well after the final felling of moist upland forests and will give the best yield in 2–5 years after the felling. The abundant, low vegetation provides a good environment for small mammals, small predators preying on them, on birds of prey and on bird species requiring shrubs or an open landscape.

The increased light and warmth after final felling improves the growth of red whortleberry, especially in more arid habitats, which will improve the yield – unless felling or cultivation have damaged the shrub. Bilberry, in its turn, suffers from the increased light and soil cultivation, and generally its yield will go down. Both of them thrive well at the edges of felling areas which are moist and yet have plenty of light. Thus, smaller, rectangular felling areas are beneficial to them.

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