Greener forestry with new environmentally friendly plant protection

Within five years, 40-50 million plants per year will be protected against the pine weevil through the use of environmentally friendly Conniflex. This is the target of Sveaskog's and Svenska Skogsplantor's offensive marketing campaign. At the same time we will provide the technology for all producers and retailers of plants, so that good progress can be made towards achieving forestry without chemical protection.  

Conniflex is a new, efficient and environmentally friendly plant protection against the pine weevil. The protection, which consists of a layer of glue and sand, will replace the chemical agents used today on pine and spruce seedlings.   

"This is a big step in Sweden towards achieving forestry without the use of chemical agents. We are living up to our promise," says Gunnar Olofsson, CEO for Sveaskog.

The damage to forest caused by the pine weevil amounts to hundreds of millions of kronor per year. They attack plants by gnawing at the thin bark causing the plants to die or grow poorly.

"At a time when we are called upon to provide forest raw material for so many applications while playing our part in the efforts for a greener society, we cannot afford to let forest be eaten up before it has even started to grow. But chemical pine weevil protection is neither long term nor sustainable. Consequently, Sveaskog and Svenska Skogsplantor have been pushing technology forwards with a focus on the development of Conniflex," says Gunnar Olofsson.

Three installations in three years are planned for

In March, the Svenska Skogsplantor nursery, Trekanten, outside Kalmar started commercial production on its new treatment line for Conniflex. This has a capacity of 10-15 million plants per year. In the autumn, a treatment process with the same capacity will be started at Vibytorp nursery in Hallsberg. A third installation is projected for 2011. These efforts will place 2.5 to 3 million seedlings on the market for the 2010 season.

"Within five years, we will be processing 40-50 million plants per year with Conniflex. In addition, there are market needs to be met amounting to more than 100 million seedlings per year. The need is increasing as climate change is causing an increase in pine weevil," said Lena Sammeli-Johansson, CEO for Svenska Skogsplantor. 

Licence sales

A widespread introduction of Conniflex onto the market is possible through the new cooperation on licence sales that Sveaskog and Svenska Skogsplantor have initiated with the country's leading supplier of equipment and systems for nurseries, BCC AB in Landskrona. BCC will provide technology for all other plant producers and retailers in Sweden as well as, in the future, other countries confronted with a pine weevil problem.