The number of young forest owners in Västmanland has plummeted

The number of forest owners under the age of 40 in Västmanland has plummeted since the turn of the millennium. At that time, 947 people under the age of 40 owned forest in the county - last year the corresponding figure was 329, according to the Norwegian Forestry Agency's statistics compiled by the industry association Mellanskog. A trend that is similar throughout the country.

- As everyone gets older, the power of innovation and new thinking decreases. It also leads to depopulation in the countryside and growth disappears. The average age is around 68 years and then you don't make investments for 20-30 years, says Thomas Claesson, chairman of the Middle Forest Forestry Area Västmanland.

Over 40 hectares

The sisters will take over 40 hectares of forest after their parents. For Agnes, forestry becomes an occupation alongside her regular work, and she describes forestry as a long-term investment.

- It's an investment you make now, and profitability only comes much later when the timber is sold. The goal is still to get paid for the time and work you put in, she says.

She sees other kinds of challenges for her generation.

- The new generation of forest owners needs to think more about climate change. Today we need to plant more mixed forest to make it more resistant to forest fires.

Agnes Pransjö speaks out in her role as future forest owner, but for the sake of transparency we also want to say that she sits on the church council for the Center Party.