Rules for Logging

The party programme demands strong protection of forests with rich ecosystems and regulation of forestry based on holistic thinking rather than one-sided profit interests, which directly carries the demand for legislation against felling of forests with high natural values. The election manifesto states that protection of forest areas is crucial for biodiversity and that clear-cutting forestry shall be phased out. The plan furthermore wants to see ambitious environmental targets followed up with sharp legislation.

• strong protection of valuable forestdecisive»behövs ett starkt skydd av skog med rika ekosystem och en genom« (party programme ↗)“there is a need for strong protection of forest with rich ecosystems and through”
• protection for biodiversity»Skyddet av skogs- och strandområden är en viktig del för att värna den svenska allemansrätten och den biologiska mångfalden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protection of forest and coastal areas is an important part of safeguarding the Swedish right of public access and biodiversity.”
• forest as carbon sink»därför behöver kalhyggesbruket fasas ut« (2022 manifesto ↗)“therefore clear-cutting forestry needs to be phased out”
• sharp environmental legislation»Vi vill se ambitiösa« (party programme ↗)“We want to see ambitious”

The plan requires protection of biological diversity and Sweden's valuable nature and warns that species extinction is accelerating. That forests with high conservation value are being felled despite the scarcity of such habitats contradicts that commitment, and the plan requires climate perspective in all decisions. The requirement for swift legislation is therefore supported on the merits, even though the plan simultaneously wants to see active forestry.

• protected biological diversitydecisive»Värn av biologisk mångfald och Sveriges värdefulla natur och vattenmiljöer.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of biological diversity and Sweden's valuable nature and water environments.”
• threatened species richness»Samtidigt accelererar artdöden och den biologiska mångfalden hotas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time, species extinction is accelerating and biological diversity is threatened.”
• climate perspective in all decisions»Klimatperspektiv på alla nivåer av beslut och beslutsfattande.« (party programme ↗)“Climate perspective at all levels of decision-making.”
• sustainable forestry»Aktivt och hållbart skogsbruk som bidrar till svensk tillväxt och som samtidigt värnar« (party programme ↗)“Active and sustainable forestry that contributes to Swedish growth and that simultaneously protects”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan demands that at least 30 per cent of forests be protected for high nature values, carbon sinks and threatened species, and that the mountain forests be preserved. It simultaneously describes that intensive forestry has created shortage of habitats for many species. Legislation that stops felling of forests with high nature values is thus directly in line with the plan.

• protect forest with high nature valuesdecisive»Minst 30 procent av skogarna måste skyddas – både för höga naturvärden och för att bevara kolsänkor och hotade arter, samt för att värna rekreation, kulturvärden och renskötsel.« (party programme ↗)“At least 30 per cent of forests must be protected – both for high nature values and to preserve carbon sinks and threatened species, as well as to protect recreation, cultural values and reindeer herding.”
• protection of forests of conservation value»skydda 30 procent av Sveriges natur, bland annat våra unika sammanhängande fjällskogar och skyddsvärda skogar i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect 30 per cent of Sweden's nature, amongst other things our unique contiguous mountain forests and forests of conservation value throughout the country.”
• preserve mountain forests»De fjällnära naturskogarna är en oersättlig naturskatt som ska bevaras.« (party programme ↗)“The mountain forests are an irreplaceable natural treasure that shall be preserved.”
• felling threatens habitats»Det intensiva skogsbruket har blivit så heltäckande i stora delar av Sverige att det skapat en brist på livsmiljöer för många arter.« (party programme ↗)“Intensive forestry has become so comprehensive in large parts of Sweden that it has created a shortage of habitats for many species.”

The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.

The election manifesto makes voluntariness and property rights the foundation for better nature conservation and establishes that sustainable forestry requires active use with good conditions for forestry. The counter-proposal instead wants to quickly legislate a felling ban for forests with high nature values, that is mandatory interventions in the landowner's use. That contradicts the plan's explicit choice of the voluntariness line.

• voluntariness before compulsion in nature conservationdecisive»Mer måste göras för att restaurera våtmarker, bekämpa invasiva arter och underlätta för markägare att bidra, då frivillighet och äganderätt är grunden för en bättre naturvård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More must be done to restore wetlands, combat invasive species and facilitate for landowners to contribute, as voluntariness and property rights are the foundation for better nature conservation.”
• active forestry»Ett hållbart skogsbruk förutsätter ett aktivt brukande av skogen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sustainable forestry requires active use of the forest.”
• strong property rights»Äganderätten är central för ett samhälle där människor kan förverkliga sig själva och sina drömmar.« (party programme ↗)“Property rights are central for a society where people can realize themselves and their dreams.”
• biological diversity shall be protected»Att skydda den biologiska mångfalden är nödvändigt för att ekosystemen ska kunna fortleva.« (party programme ↗)“Protecting biological diversity is necessary for ecosystems to continue.”

The plan requires that remaining old-growth forests are given stronger protection and that threatened species are protected through protection orders and habitat protection, while environmental consideration in forestry must increase. That through legislation stop felling of forests with high nature values is in line with that commitment. The plan's requirement for good cooperation with landowners sets the form, but not the barrier for protection.

• stronger protection for old-growth forestdecisive»De återstående gammelskogarna ska ges starkare skydd.« (party programme ↗)“Remaining old-growth forests shall be given stronger protection.”
• protection of threatened species»Hotade växter och djur ska skyddas genom fridlysning, information och biotopskydd.« (party programme ↗)“Threatened plants and animals shall be protected through protection orders, information and habitat protection.”
• increased environmental consideration in forestry»Miljöhänsynen inom skogsbruket måste öka.« (party programme ↗)“Environmental consideration in forestry must increase.”
• cooperation with landowners»Staten ska sträva efter god samverkan med markägare och lokalbefolkning i naturvård och viltförvaltning.« (party programme ↗)“The State shall strive for good cooperation with landowners and local populations in nature conservation and wildlife management.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The election manifesto identifies the threat to the right to own forest as a problem to be corrected, and the plan establishes that the right to property is a human right and that production and environmental goals shall have equal dignity. A hastily legislated logging ban places one-sided weight on one goal and restricts the landowner's right. The plan's demand for sufficient reserve protection points in another direction, but does not support a general ban.

• protect the right to own forestdecisive»äganderätten över skogen hotas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“the right to own forest is threatened”
• property rights as a right»Rätten till egendom är en mänsklig rättighet« (party programme ↗)“The right to property is a human right”
• equal production and environmental goals»Det är angeläget att dessa mål har samma prioritet och dignitet vid utformandet av« (party programme ↗)“It is important that these goals have equal priority and dignity in the design of”
• sufficient reserve protection»Våtmarker behöver bevaras och vid behov återställas, skog behöver reservatsskyddas i« (party programme ↗)“Wetlands need to be preserved and if necessary restored, forest needs reserve protection in”

The plan wants to reduce the area of forest that is exempt from forestry and establishes that formal protection shall be achieved through voluntary action by the landowner. Rapid legislation that stops felling of forests with high natural values goes directly against both of these commitments. The plan's starting point is that too much forest is already taken out of production and that more forest shall be managed, not less.

• less forest exemptdecisive»Minska ytan av skog som är undantagen från skogsbruk« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the area of forest that is exempt from forestry”
• voluntary formal protection»Stärka skogsägarnas äganderätt genom att formellt skydd av skog ska ske genom frivillighet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen forest owners' ownership rights through formal protection of forests being achieved through voluntary action”
• too much forest out of production»Idag är närmare 30 procent av skogsmarken tagen ur produktion.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Today nearly 30 percent of forest land is taken out of production.”
• ownership right protected»Människors rätt att äga ska värnas så att skogen kan brukas långsiktigt och hållbart till nytta för klimatet och miljön.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“People's right to own shall be protected so that forests can be managed long-term and sustainably to benefit climate and environment.”

The plan establishes that forest owners' right to manage their forests shall be protected, that ownership shall be strengthened and that setting aside forest shall occur voluntarily and with good compensation. The counter-proposal's demand for swift legislation that stops felling of forests with high natural values means mandatory restrictions on precisely that usage right. The plan moreover prioritizes adapted forest management over reserve designation.

• right to manage own forestdecisive»Värna skogsägarnas rätt att bruka sina skogar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect forest owners' right to manage their forests”
• voluntariness in protection»Avsättning av skog till reservat ska ske på frivillighetens grund och med god ersättning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Setting aside forest for reserves shall occur on a voluntary basis and with good compensation.”
• voluntariness under responsibility»Erfarenheten visar att frivillighet under ansvar fungerar bäst för att skapa miljövärden, stöttat med kompetent och hjälpande rådgivning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Experience shows that voluntariness under responsibility works best for creating environmental values, supported by competent and helpful advice.”
• management over reserves»Att anpassad skogsskötsel prioriteras före reservatsavsättning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That adapted forest management is prioritized over reserve designation”