KMS Baltics
Baltic nations Estonia and Latvia are among the most heavily forested countries in the European Union, according to an official report.

Data from the Eurostat statistics agency shows that 55 per cent of Estonia's land mass is covered by forests and other wooded areas.

Latvia is only just behind its neighbour, with 52 per cent of its land dedicated to forestry and woodland.

The EU average is 39 per cent, the figures show. Countries including Germany, Italy, Spain and France fall below this level.

Latvia and Estonia were forth and fifth out of 27 EU member states for forest cover, after Finland, Sweden and Slovenia.

The latest available figures from Statistics Estonia show that in 2008, the country's forest area was 2.2 million hectares.

Growing stock was 440 million cubic metres of solid volume.

During the year, some 5.2 million cubic metres of forest was felled, one which 80 per cent was regeneration felling.

This news item is brought to you by KMS Baltics in conjunction with Fest-Forest and EST KINNISVARA. Baltic forestry and property specialists

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