Sweden is known as one of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world. the International Energy Agency (IEA) called the country a world leader in building a low carbon economy. Sweden’s forestry practices and policies, on the other hand, require further examination.

Forests in Sweden are shrinking at a record rate. About 2.7 million hectares of the wooded area below the mountainous region in Sweden lacks formal protection. In some areas, cut forests are being replaced by even-aged trees with limited species, which have put a strain on biodiversity.

The main authority responsible for monitoring compliance with environmental and forestry legislation is the Swedish Forestry Agency (SFA). They found this forest owners do not always inform the SFA of their intention to harvest trees; many also do not meet the requirements for nature conservation. Other issues that contribute to logging numbers include the lack of cultural preservation of forests and reforestation linked to harvest.

History of logging in Sweden

Swedish forests play a major role in its economy. The country comes from less than 1% of the world’s forest area, and yet it supplies 10% of sawnwood, pulp and paper that are sold on the world market. Although this was not always the case, logging in Sweden has been commonplace for centuries.

1100-1800

In the past, forests were cleared for agricultural and domestic purposes, such as the use of wood for fuel and timber. The forests were also hunting grounds and used to produce charcoal, tar and potash. In the 13th century, wood from Swedish forests was used in the mining industry; this continued until the 19th century.

Raw materials from the forests helped produce iron and steel, build ships, make glass, and were used for other industrial activities. During the 1400s, timber was so widely available that the government saw no need to regulate logging.

1800s

In the mid-1800s, the forest products industry increased demand for sawlogs and raw materials for pulp and paper production. In 1850, timber exports accounted for 15% of the total value of Swedish exports. This increased demand transformed Sweden from an agrarian society into a rapidly developing industrialized nation. The exploitation of resources and the lack of reforestation policies resulted in total depletion of forest land in the late 1800s. Many areas of southern Sweden were completely depleted. devoid of forests as an increased population needed more land for agriculture, while the forests of the north became depleted due to selective logging to meet the demands of industry.

1900s-2000s

In 1903, Parliament passed the Forest Law, which initially focused on forest regeneration. The law on forests was strongly criticized because flora and fauna were not sufficiently taken into account; it has been revised several times since 1903.

Meanwhile, regional forest service organizations have also been established. support afforestation and reforestation policies. In 1905, a forestry authority was established in each county, and in 1915 forestry education was established in Swedish universities. Swedish National Forest Inventory was initiated in 1923 and government regulation of the forestry sector intensified after World War II.

The forest stock increased by 85% after the creation of the National Forest Inventory. This was due to a combination of factors, including policy setting, the development of forest science and the creation of family forestry associations built on land rights. In Sweden, the forest is a family asset, and there are about 200,000 families with farms of more than 50 hectares. Although the forest stocks increased, they were not rich in biodiversity due to Sweden’s even-aged forest management system. Rare species of flora and fauna have completely disappeared from Swedish forests due to habitat loss.

Laws and policies

The Forest Law of 1993, still in force today, stipulates that Swedish forests must produce a “Good sustainable yield while maintaining biological diversity”. He declares that those who cut down the forests have an obligation to take into account nature, cultural heritage, reindeer herding and other interests.

However, under this law, logging is still not strictly regulated and responsible logging has become voluntary. In 2010, more than a third of felled trees did not meet the requirements of the Swedish Forest Act. This voluntary system has been heavily criticized by environmentalists around the world.

In 2011, the SFA published prescriptions and advice on how forest owners should manage forests responsibly, but this had little lasting impact. In 2013, the Strategy for biodiversity and ecosystem services was created in response to the worsening problem of deforestation in Swedish forests. In 2014, the National forestry program was created to increase the effectiveness of forest-related policy implementation and increase public participation. However, the program appears to prioritize economic growth over sustainable forest management, stating that “forests … will help to job creation and sustainable growth across the country and the development of a growing bioeconomy.

Practices today

In recent years, Sweden has claimed that its forest model is one of the most sustainable in the world, with around 45% of its wooded area (24 million to 57 million acres) certified sustainably managed. However, there are still acres of clearcuts that have removed up to 95% of trees and buffer zones around streams that are only two meters wide. In addition, the areas that are clearcut are then replanted with monocultures, such as spruces or pines; this has a negative effect on biodiversity and leads to habitat loss.

Another problem with the forest management system is that the SFA, which is supposed to be the authority responsible for monitoring compliance, is understaffed. As a result, logging companies and landowners end up making the decisions themselves about how to manage the country’s forests.

Additionally, illegal connection in Sweden is a common phenomenon, defined as any logging activity that does not meet the requirements for nature conservation, preservation of cultural heritage or reforestation. Sweden is one of the The main importers of illegal timber from the European Union.

Logging continues to limit the number of old growth forests and destroy wildlife habitat. Over 2,100 endangered species depend directly on Sweden’s old-growth forests, but the number of threatened and endangered species on the country’s Red List has increased. If Sweden is to improve its deforestation rate, the country must implement stricter logging regulations.