Decades of large-scale clear-cutting have driven hundreds of forest-dwelling species to the brink, the Swedish Forest Agency reports. About 300 hectares of natural forest vanish each year. Natural forests and older forests with high conservation values are being logged at a high rate. Biodiversity is running out, yet key biotopes are being logged rapidly.
Since 2022, the logging rate in the most valuable forests has surged from 6,000 to 26,000 hectares per year. A total of 1.2 million hectares of valuable forests lack protection. At current rates, about half a million hectares will be protected in 25 years, while 670,000 hectares will have been logged. The loss is irreversible because it takes centuries to develop these habitats, the agency states. Current environmental considerations are insufficient.
The forest industry association claims that two to three new trees are planted for every tree felled and that Sweden now has twice as much old forest as 30 years ago. However, the agency notes that old forest is increasing but natural forests are decreasing. The government has instructed agencies to apply a minimum level in the national plan for the EU's nature restoration law, effectively determining that Sweden's forests already meet EU requirements.
The Swedish Forest Agency's automatic digital review of logging notifications selects only a fraction of about 60,000 cases. Registered key biotopes can pass review without a decision and be logged after six weeks. Forest owners had to deregister new key biotopes, making them easier to miss. The agency does not know what happened to many deregistered key biotopes. Protecting such forests is highest priority for threatened species, according to a report from SLU Artdatabanken.