Forestry Practices in Sweden Is Causing Biodiversity Crisis

PRESSMEDDELANDE

2019-05-15

Forestry practices in Sweden is causing biodiversity crisis

Vast areas of the Swedish natural forest have been turned into giant cultivation areas resulting in a biodiversity crisis in the forests of Sweden. A large species loss in the forests is primarily caused by forestry practices. Nevertheless, the Swedish forestry model has been claimed across Europe as a good example of sustainable forestry. Since the 1950´s clear cutting has been the default method and the naturally growing forest trees have, to a large extent, been replaced with refined plants and exotic species. The Swedish legislation and the certifications FSC and PEFC have failed to safeguard the forest ecosystem as biologically valuable forests are being clear felled at an alarming rate, and the fragmentation of large natural forest areas are ongoing.

The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) is now releasing the report “Under the Cover of the Swedish Forestry Model” to highlight the destruction of natural forests with high biological values in Sweden.

After more than 100 years of intensive forestry the Swedish landscape is almost completely dominated by managed forests in different stages after clear cutting – many of which are not ready to be harvested again. The forest sector therefore is clear cutting large areas of the remaining old natural forests, despite the international agreement on increasing the area of protected land to at least 17 per cent, in well connected and ecologically representative areas, by the year 2020. Today less than 4 per cent of the productive forest is protected in Sweden.

- Perhaps the greatest challenge for Sweden is the protection of productive forestland. No action plan on how to reach the target has been presented as of today; still the last remaining natural forests are being clear felled. Since the clear cutting method, which is almost exclusively in practice, is the strongest driver behind the biodiversity crisis in the forests of Sweden today, consumers and producers across Europe need to be aware of the Swedish methods and the fact that even FSC-certified companies are clear felling forests with high conservation values and endangered species, says Karin Åström, vice president, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.

The report is based on SSNC´s field documentations between the years 2007-2010. Hundreds of forests with conservation values have been investigated after large FSC- and PEFC- certified companies such as Stora Enso, SCA, Sveaskog and Holmen have notified these for logging. The result of the field studies show a remarkable lack of consideration to high nature values such as endangered species and old growth forests. Numerous of the clear felled natural forests visited do not live up to the FSC-regulations, and large nature values have gone lost, despite the companies’ firsthand knowledge of these values.

- More than 90 per cent of the productive forests are affected by forest management today, the destruction is ongoing, and the forest ecosystem is threatened. The Swedish forestry model has enabled a shift from species-rich, valuable natural forests to homogenous plantations with trees of the same ages and species. The Red List of species continues to grow and our field documentations show that the consideration taken to threatened species, in forests planned for clear felling or already clear felled, is practically non-existent, as documented habitats for red listed and endangered species are being felled at an alarmingly rate, says Malin Sahlin, forest campaigner, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.

- Sweden is one of the world´s richest countries with a profile of being prominent in environmental concern and also sustainable forestry. We are deeply concerned for the forest ecosystem, and ashamed that a rich country like Sweden is not effectively safeguarding the forest biodiversity in order to meet its national and international environmental objectives and commitments, says Karin Åström, vice president, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.

Download and read the report:

For questions and interview contact:

Karin Åström, vice president Swedish Society of Nature Conservation, +46735 84 000 17

Malin Sahlin, forest campaigner, SSNC, +4670 311 84 51

Louise Wileen Bjarke, press officer SSNC, +4670 884 77 28

Free pics from threatened forests and clear-cuttings in Sweden 2007-2010:

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