13 February 2026 | Article

Deadwood: Continuity & Mix 

In Sweden, dead wood on productive forest land has increased since 2000—but from low starting levels. Dead wood is essential habitat for thousands of species. To restore forest biodiversity, we need both continuity over time and a varied mix of standing and downed dead wood. 

National inventory data show that the amount of dead wood on Sweden’s productive forest land has increased since 2000. That’s a positive trend—but it’s important to remember it starts from low levels. Today, the average is about 8.7 m³ of dead wood per hectare, while an undisturbed natural forest can contain at least ten times more. 

That gap matters: dead wood is not “waste”—it’s substrate, shelter and food, supporting fungi, insects, lichens and many other organisms. 

To benefit as many species as possible, two design rules are key: 

• Continuity: create dead wood repeatedly over time so there is always habitat available across multiple decay stages. 

• Variation: maintain a mix of standing and downed dead wood, since different organisms specialize in different conditions. 

A decade-long experiment in boreal pine forest (2012–2022), summarized by Skogforsk, found clear differences between groups: beetles were favored by standing dead wood, while fungi were favored by downed dead wood. The species assemblages also differed depending on whether wood was standing or lying on the ground—reinforcing the need for structural variety.  

Takeaway: For dead wood, the key is continuity and variation—create it regularly, and include both standing and downed dead wood. 

Photo: fightCOtwo 

This article builds on fightCOtwo’s previous analysis of long-term boreal forest conservation and the methodological requirements for high-quality, certified carbon and biodiversity projects.