2025-03-192024/25:MJU11 · p.2MJUEnvironment & agriculture
Government's financial management
Government funding of protected-nature management
What's at stake: How much money is allocated to managing protected nature affects the upkeep of nature reserves, hiking trails, viewpoints and picnic sites, and can over time affect the exercise of the public right of access to nature. It concerns visitors, residents of affected counties, and the agencies responsible for upkeep.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government's current and announced measures to steer and finance the management of protected nature are sufficient, or whether the appropriation for valuable nature needs to be raised substantially above the government's level.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee welcomes the National Audit Office's review and agrees that the state's efforts to manage protected nature fall short in several respects. It welcomes the measures the government has already taken and announced - including tasking the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency with reporting on and developing its work, the agency's action plan, and the forthcoming national biodiversity strategy and action plan - and on that basis rejects the motions calling for additional funding.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 5 (S)
The reservation (S) wants to raise the appropriation for measures for valuable nature substantially above the government's level. The reason given is that the appropriation, despite reported increases, is far lower in real terms than in previous years and roughly one billion kronor below what the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency assesses is needed, which has already reduced upkeep and maintenance and makes hiking trails, viewpoints and picnic sites less accessible.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 5 by S.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: MModeraterna
Ja 155–94Nej 95–154
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Abstain 0/0/21/3 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/16/2 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/20/4 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 15/0/0/1 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:3109 by Anna-Caren Sätherberg et al. (S) clause 66, 2024/25:3282 by Andrea Andersson Tay et al. (V), 2024/25:3285 by Anna-Caren Sätherberg et al. (S) clause 2, 2024/25:3286 by Stina Larsson et al. (C) and 2024/25:3289 by Emma Nohrén et al. (MP) clauses 1 and 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:3109 av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S) yrkande 66, 2024/25:3282 av Andrea Andersson Tay m.fl. (V), 2024/25:3285 av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S) yrkande 2, 2024/25:3286 av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C) och 2024/25:3289 av Emma Nohrén m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1 och 2.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has considered a statement from the government based on the National Audit Office's audit report on the management of protected nature. Fifteen percent of Sweden's area consists of protected nature, which includes the country's nature reserves and national parks. The Riksdag has decided that the protected areas shall be managed at a high ambition level. The National Audit Office points to several shortcomings in the management and makes recommendations to the government, the Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket), and the county administrative boards in its report. The Riksdag agrees with the National Audit Office's assessments that the state's efforts are lacking and welcomes the measures that the government has proposed to improve the management. The management of protected nature shall, according to the Riksdag, be efficient and appropriate while contributing to the fulfillment of Sweden's national goals and international commitments. The Riksdag laid the statement on file, which means the matter was concluded.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to increase appropriations for nature conservation to ensure effective management of protected areas. (S) — Reservation 5
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan requires deliberate and comprehensive work for rich ecosystems and protection of forests and coastal areas, which presupposes that care of protected nature is funded.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires deliberate and comprehensive work for rich ecosystems and protection of forests and coastal areas, which presupposes that care of protected nature is funded. The plan also emphasizes that people should have easy access to nature experiences. A significantly increased appropriation for care of valuable nature thus follows from the commitments, even though appropriation levels are not mentioned.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver ett medvetet och heltäckande arbete för rika ekosystem och att skyddet av skogs- och strandområden värnas, vilket förutsätter att skötseln av skyddad natur är finansierad. Planen betonar också att människor ska ha nära till naturupplevelser. Ett väsentligt höjt anslag till skötsel av värdefull natur följer därför av åtagandena, även om anslagsnivåer inte nämns.
- rich ecosystems and restorationdecisive»skapa goda villkor för rika ekosystem, bland annat genom att återställa« (party programme ↗)“create good conditions for rich ecosystems, including by restoring”
- nature protection and public access»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 Swedish right of public access and biological diversity.”
- access to nature experiences»En god samhällsplanering som ser till att människor har nära till idrottsanläggningar« (party programme ↗)“Good spatial planning that ensures people have easy access to sports facilities”
- environmental goals with practical work»miljömål som följs upp med skarp lagstiftning och praktiskt arbete.« (party programme ↗)“environmental goals that are followed up with sharp legislation and practical work.”
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 party programme establishes that biological diversity must be protected and that ecosystems are already used beyond the limits of long-term sustainability; the election manifesto highlights species extinction as a threat.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that biological diversity must be protected and that ecosystems are already used beyond the limits of long-term sustainability; the election manifesto highlights species extinction as a threat. Substantially increased appropriations for management of valuable nature follows from that commitment, when the authority's assessed needs fall short by about a billion. The plan specifies no appropriation levels, so the position is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att den biologiska mångfalden måste skyddas och att ekosystemen redan utnyttjas över gränsen för det långsiktigt hållbara; valmanifestet lyfter artdöden som ett hot. Ett väsentligt höjt anslag till skötsel av värdefull natur följer av det åtagandet, när myndighetens bedömda behov underskrids med omkring en miljard. Planen anger inga anslagsnivåer, så ställningstagandet är härlett.
- protect biological diversitydecisive»biologiska mångfalden måste skyddas.« (party programme ↗)“biological diversity must be protected.”
- species extinction shall be stopped»Samtidigt accelererar artdöden och den biologiska mångfalden hotas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time, species extinction accelerates and biological diversity is threatened.”
- ecosystems beyond sustainable limits»naturtillgångar och ekosystem utnyttjas i dag över gränsen för det långsiktigt hållbara, och« (party programme ↗)“natural resources and ecosystems are today used beyond the limits of long-term sustainability, and”
The election manifesto commits to protect 30 percent of Sweden's nature and to give more money so more can enjoy Swedish nature, and the party programme establishes that nature conservation matters must be given greater weight.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto commits to protect 30 percent of Sweden's nature and to give more money so more can enjoy Swedish nature, and the party programme establishes that nature conservation matters must be given greater weight. An appropriation that is around one billion below the authority's assessed need for management of protected nature runs counter to this. The plan therefore supports a substantial increase.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet åtar sig att skydda 30 procent av Sveriges natur och att ge mer pengar så att fler kan njuta av svensk natur, och partiprogrammet slår fast att naturvårdsfrågorna måste få större tyngd. Ett anslag som ligger omkring en miljard under myndighetens bedömda behov för skötsel av skyddad natur går tvärtemot detta. Planen stöder därför en väsentlig höjning.
- protect 30 percent of naturedecisive»skydda 30 procent av Sveriges natur, bland annat våra unika sammanhängande fjällskogar och skyddsvärda skogar i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect 30 percent of Sweden's nature, including our unique continuous mountain forests and protected forests across the country.”
- nature conservation shall weigh more»Naturvårdsfrågorna i Sverige och inom EU måste få större tyngd.« (party programme ↗)“Nature conservation matters in Sweden and within the EU must be given greater weight.”
- more money for outdoor recreation»ge mer pengar till friluftsorganisationerna så att fler kan njuta av svensk natur.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“give more money to outdoor life organizations so more can enjoy Swedish nature.”
- investments in nature conservation»Investeringar i natur- och kulturmiljövård samt utveckling av modern ekoturism kan ge många gröna jobb.« (party programme ↗)“Investments in nature and cultural heritage conservation and development of modern eco-tourism can create many green jobs.”
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 establishes that Sweden's nature shall be cared for, biological diversity shall be developed, and more must be done, which speaks for substantially increased funds to maintenance of valuable nature.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that Sweden's nature shall be cared for, biological diversity shall be developed, and more must be done, which speaks for substantially increased funds to maintenance of valuable nature. The party programme sees conservation of biological diversity as an investment and emphasises that nature's values must be usable by everyone, which addresses the impaired hiking trails. The plan simultaneously wants to economise with taxpayers' money, but the nature-care commitment weighs more heavily in the matter.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att Sveriges natur ska vårdas, att den biologiska mångfalden ska utvecklas och att mer måste göras, vilket talar för väsentligt höjda medel till skötsel av värdefull natur. Partiprogrammet ser bevarandet av biologisk mångfald som en investering och betonar att naturens värden måste kunna nyttjas av alla, vilket träffar de försämrade vandringslederna. Planen vill samtidigt hushålla med skattebetalarnas pengar, men naturvårdsåtagandet väger tyngre i sakfrågan.
- more must be done for nature caredecisive»Sveriges natur ska vårdas och den biologiska mångfalden utvecklas. 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 ↗)“Sweden's nature shall be cared for and biological diversity developed. More must be done to restore wetlands, combat invasive species, and make it easier for landowners to contribute, as voluntary action and property rights are the basis for better nature care.”
- universal access to nature»Naturen har unika värden som alla måste kunna ta del av.« (party programme ↗)“Nature has unique values that everyone must be able to enjoy.”
- protect biological diversity»Att skydda den biologiska mångfalden är nödvändigt för att ekosystemen ska kunna fortleva.« (party programme ↗)“Protecting biological diversity is necessary for ecosystems to survive.”
- economise with tax funds»Politiken ska hushålla med skattebetalarnas pengar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Policy shall economise with taxpayers' money.”
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's decisive commitment is that nature conservation shall experience a renaissance with increased restoration efforts and that work to protect valuable nature and biological diversity shall continue.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive commitment is that nature conservation shall experience a renaissance with increased restoration efforts and that work to protect valuable nature and biological diversity shall continue. An allocation that falls below what the agency judges needed for care of valuable nature goes against that, and the counter-proposal's demand for raised allocation therefore follows from the plan. That public access to forest and land shall be protected strengthens the conclusion, as trails and facilities otherwise deteriorate.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att naturvården ska få en renässans med ökade restaureringsinsatser och att arbetet med att skydda värdefull natur och biologisk mångfald ska fortsätta. Ett anslag som ligger under vad myndigheten bedömer krävs för skötsel av värdefull natur går emot det, och motförslagets krav på höjt anslag följer därför av planen. Att allmänhetens tillgång till skog och mark ska värnas stärker slutsatsen, eftersom leder och anläggningar annars förfaller.
- nature conservation is prioritizeddecisive»Naturvården måste få en renässans.« (party programme ↗)“Nature conservation must experience a renaissance.”
- protect valuable nature»Då behöver vi fortsätta arbetet med att skydda både värdefull natur och den biologiska mångfalden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Then we need to continue the work of protecting both valuable nature and biological diversity.”
- increased restoration efforts»behövs ökade restaureringsinsatser« (party programme ↗)“increased restoration efforts are needed”
- public access to nature»Allmänhetens tillgång till skog, mark och stränder ska värnas.« (party programme ↗)“Public access to forest, land and shores shall be protected.”
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 stewardship principle applies according to the plan also to common resources, and national parks and outdoor recreation near people are highlighted as values to be preserved for future generations.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The stewardship principle applies according to the plan also to common resources, and national parks and outdoor recreation near people are highlighted as values to be preserved for future generations. That the maintenance of walking paths and visitor facilities is deteriorating contradicts this. The plan, however, specifies no appropriation levels, so support for a substantial increase is derived and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Förvaltarskapsprincipen gäller enligt planen även de gemensamma tillgångarna, och nationalparker och friluftsliv nära människor lyfts fram som värden att bevara för kommande generationer. Att skötseln av vandringsleder och besöksanordningar förfaller strider mot detta. Planen anger dock inga anslagsnivåer, varför stödet för en väsentlig höjning är härlett och osäkert.
- preserve national natural heritagedecisive»Nationalparkerna är viktiga för att bevara vårt nationella naturarv åt kommande generationer.« (party programme ↗)“National parks are important for preserving our national natural heritage for future generations.”
- stewardship of common resources»Ansvaret att förvalta gäller såväl de egna som de gemensamma tillgångarna.« (party programme ↗)“The responsibility to steward applies to both own and common resources.”
- outdoor recreation near people»möjlighet till friluftsliv finns på nära håll« (party programme ↗)“opportunity for outdoor recreation is available nearby”
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 explicitly states that more government resources are needed to manage and maintain areas with valuable nature and to upgrade trails in national parks and state nature reserves.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that more government resources are needed to manage and maintain areas with valuable nature and to upgrade trails in national parks and state nature reserves. It also commits to better care for already protected nature and clarify the public's responsibility for outdoor recreation. The counter-proposal's demand for a significantly increased allocation to the management of valuable nature is thus the plan's own line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger uttryckligen att det behövs mer statliga resurser för att sköta och förvalta områden med värdefull natur och för att rusta upp leder i nationalparker och statliga naturreservat. Den åtar sig också att vårda redan skyddad natur bättre och tydliggöra det offentligas ansvar för friluftslivet. Motförslagets krav på ett väsentligt höjt anslag till skötsel av värdefull natur är därmed planens egen linje.
- more resources for nature managementdecisive»Det behövs mer statliga resurser för att sköta och förvalta områden med värdefull natur, samt för att rusta upp befintliga och vid behov skapa nya leder i nationalparker och statliga naturreservat.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More government resources are needed to manage and maintain areas with valuable nature, and to upgrade existing and if needed create new trails in national parks and state nature reserves.”
- investment in trails»Göra naturupplevelser och friluftsliv i statliga naturreservat och nationalparker tillgängliga för fler genom satsningar på leder och friluftsanordningar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Make nature experiences and outdoor recreation in state nature reserves and national parks accessible to more through investments in trails and outdoor facilities”
- care for already protected nature»Vårda redan skyddad skog bättre för att stärka den biologiska mångfalden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Care for already protected forest better to strengthen biological diversity”
- public responsibility for outdoor recreation»Tydliggöra det offentligas ansvar för friluftslivet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Clarify the public's responsibility for outdoor recreation”
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 plan's nature conservation line is that money should go to adapted management of nature rather than to new nature reserve designations, and that hunters' and outdoor enthusiasts' access to nature shall be safeguarded.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's nature conservation line is that money should go to adapted management of nature rather than to new nature reserve designations, and that hunters' and outdoor enthusiasts' access to nature shall be safeguarded. An increased allocation to management of valuable nature, which keeps trails and facilities accessible, thereby aligns with the plan's direction. The plan simultaneously sets the requirement that every krona shall deliver the most environmental benefit, which dampens confidence in the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Planens naturvårdslinje är att pengar ska gå till anpassad skötsel av naturen snarare än till nya reservatsavsättningar, och att jägares och friluftslivets tillgång till naturen ska värnas. Ett höjt anslag till skötsel av värdefull natur, som håller leder och anläggningar tillgängliga, ligger därmed i planens riktning. Planen ställer samtidigt kravet att varje krona ska ge mest miljönytta, vilket dämpar säkerheten i slutsatsen.
- management before reservesdecisive»Att anpassad skogsskötsel prioriteras före reservatsavsättning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That adapted forest management is prioritized before nature reserve designation”
- pay for nature management»ge ersättning för anpassad skötsel av känslig natur snarare än för reservatsbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“provide compensation for adapted management of sensitive nature rather than for nature reserve designation”
- safeguarded public access to nature»Sverigedemokraterna slår vakt om allemansrätten« (party programme ↗)“Sweden Democrats safeguard public access to nature”
- environmental benefit per krona»Sträva efter miljöeffektivitet och hitta de åtgärder som ger mest miljö per krona« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Pursue environmental efficiency and find the measures that deliver most environmental benefit per krona”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:MJU11)
- Committee report full text (HC01MJU11)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1450 — Turism och besöksnäring av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1613 — Urholkning av äganderätten av Ulrika Heie (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2485 — Natur och biologisk mångfald av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2634 — Skydd av 30 procent av Sveriges natur av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:3109 — Utgiftsområde 20 Klimat, miljö och natur av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3282 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:55 Riksrevisionens rapport om förvaltningen av skyddad natur av Andrea Andersson Tay m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:3285 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:55 Riksrevisionens rapport om förvaltningen av skyddad natur av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3286 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:55 Riksrevisionens rapport om förvaltningen av skyddad natur av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:3289 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:55 Riksrevisionens rapport om förvaltningen av skyddad natur av Emma Nohrén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:492 — Bildande av naturreservat av Mikael Larsson (C)
- Motion 2024/25:591 — Värna den jämtländska fjällturismen av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2024/25:55 — Riksrevisionens rapport om förvaltningen av skyddad natur
Source: The Swedish Parliament