'Forestry Policy Is Becoming Increasingly Environmentally Damaging'

Sweden's current forest policy is increasingly detrimental to the environment, according to critics who argue that the government deliberately prioritizes production interests over ecological preservation. Despite repeated warnings from environmental agencies like Naturvårdsverket, Skogsstyrelsen, and Artdatabanken about the continuous decline in forest biodiversity, government actions are seen as favoring commercial forestry. This stance contradicts the wishes of over 70 percent of the Swedish population, who advocate for more nature-adapted forestry practices and long-term protection of old-growth forests. The authors, who previously worked at Naturvårdsverket, express strong concern over this trend, noting that Sweden is failing to meet its environmental quality goals for 'Living Forests' and 'Rich Plant and Animal Life.' They lament that the government's policies, which increasingly simplify logging permits, limit environmental organizations' appeal rights, and reduce the number of protected species that can halt logging, reflect a conscious choice to benefit business and landowner interests at the environment's expense. The shift away from agency-led inventories for conservation areas towards relying on individual landowners' initiatives is also criticized as insufficient for safeguarding remaining valuable old-growth forests. Furthermore, the registration of key biotopes has weakened, diminishing the data available for conservation planning.