Finnish Logging Trucks Bogging Down As Industry Fights Record Winter Warmth - Reuters

[hatrack]

HELSINKI - Finland, renowned for its harsh Arctic winters, is struggling to collect enough timber from its forests to feed the country's paper mills as an early spring thaw makes the ground too soft for logging trucks.

Finnish paper makers -- including some of the world's largest firms in the sector -- said on Wednesday that the late onset of winter and the early arrival of spring was playing havoc with wood supplies because logging trucks need the forest tracks they use to remain frozen to carry their heavy loads. Finland is emerging from its shortest winter on record with temperatures in southern Finland climbing to 17 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the warmest temperature recorded in March, the Finnish meteorological institute said.

Many forest tracks are proving too soft in both Finland and Russia for trucks to do their job, causing a wood shortage and prompting paper makers to consider imports of eucalyptus.

The short-lived winter has heightened concerns about global warming in a country which stretches into the Arctic Circle. "Scarcity of wood will continue at least until the autumn," said Juha Mantyla, Forest Director at Metsaliitto, the main owner of Finnish paper maker M-real.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/41146/story.htm

Hello, Logging Industry!! Are we paying attention now?

[donsu]

1. chain reactions bursting out all over

as climate change expands

[jmatthan]

2. Changing from winter to summer tyres

Usually we change from winter to summer tyres in the middle of April here in the north of Finland.

Not only I have changed my car tyres but I am scooting around on my scooter as the weather is so warm that all the cycle and scooter roads are completely clear of snow and ice. Some grit still on these roads, but the washing and vacuuming machines are already out, something we only see in the third week of April.

Shortest winter in warmest in my 23 years in Finland!

Jacob
Oulu,Finland

[donsu]

3. very interesting, thanks for the report

nt