Clear-cutting near roads and railways can exacerbate damage in connection with heavy rain, as the runoff increases. This is something the Swedish Forest Agency has previously pointed out earlier, and this risk factor has become highly relevant again after the severe weather in Västernorrland. As is known, both roads and railways were damaged, which led to two derailed trains and a fatal accident on the road.
The Swedish Forest Agency has, barely two weeks later, a first overview in the form of two maps from the areas around the derailment near Skorped in Örnsköldsvik municipality, as well as around the fatal accident in the Ramvik area, Härnösand municipality. The maps show that final felling has been carried out in the vicinity, which several media outlets have reported on.
We have presented both what the forest looks like and what research says, summarizes Staffan Norin, head of the Swedish Forest Agency's forest unit.
”Pure speculation”
But the possible link between clear-cutting and major damage to infrastructure in Västernorrland has irritated the Swedish Forest Industries.
”Theories that regeneration cutting or individual clear-cuts would have had a direct impact on the flood damage are currently pure speculation”, says the organization's business policy manager Magnus Berg in a press release.
He thinks that the Swedish Forest Agency can wait with connections until a thorough analysis is done. He also sees a risk that other, known, risk factors will receive less attention in the debate.
It is important to look at the neglected maintenance of roads and railways in Sweden. We know that if maintenance is lacking, the infrastructure will be worse at withstanding extreme water flows, says Magnus Berg to TT.
No one singled out
Staffan Norin emphasizes that the Swedish Forest Agency has not pointed out forestry as the triggering factor in the two landslide areas.
We have been clear that we do not know the causes and that they will be investigated by the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority. We have not blamed any individual actor for what has happened.
Both Staffan Norin and Magnus Berg agree on one thing: Authorities, companies, and other actors need to cooperate more to prevent damage similar to that in Västernorrland.
It's about ensuring a resilient infrastructure. But also, of course, that, for example, forestry conducts its operations in such a way that it does not contribute to exacerbating the problem, says Magnus Berg.
