Less wood felled in Swiss forests in 2024

Following a drop already in 2023, the harvest volume again declined last year, as the importance of wood chips for energy production has increased. According to figures relseased by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on Wednesday, 4.8 million cubic metres of wood were harvested in Switzerland in 2024, around 0.1 million cubic metres or 2% less than in the previous year. The volumes of trunk wood and logs for energy production declined. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In contrast, the quantities of industrial wood and wood chips for energy production increased. Energy wood now accounts for 30% of the total harvest. According to the FSO, this share has doubled over the past two decades. The FSO notes that the trend towards lower demand and therefore lower timber prices played a role in the lower harvest volume of logs, sawn timber and piece wood. Of the wood harvested in 2024, some 3.2 million cubic metres came from coniferous trees and 1.6 million cubic ...