The birth of a forest

New forests grow naturally from seeds or saplings. Study the cones, seeds and saplings of forest trees through an electronic microscope or on X-ray images! Try out the planting tube used to plant seedlings into the ground.

Most forests are regenerated through planting. In 2023, for example, 68% of Finnish forests were regenerated by planting saplings, 17% by sowing seeds, and 15% regenerated naturally. Natural regeneration refers to the process of seedlings growing from the seeds of seed trees that are spared in fellings. The quickest way to spur on new growth is by sowing seeds or planting saplings. To this end, seeds are collected from natural forests and from plantations, for which the best tree offspring have been selected. The seeds must be sowed in the same growth area from which they were collected. Seedlings that are ready to be planted are grown in nurseries. Moreover, site preparation can be used to ensure the establishment and good early development of the seedlings. Tree planting is a traditional summer job for youths, particularly in northern Finland.