2025-03-192024/25:MJU11 · p.1MJUEnvironment & agriculture
Management of protected areas
Managing protected areas and maintaining mountain hiking trails
What's at stake: Overloaded hiking trails can wear on sensitive mountain nature and worsen the experience for visitors. It concerns tourists, residents of mountain municipalities, businesses that depend on the visitor industry, and the ability to experience Swedish mountain wilderness without damaging it.
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 state's management of protected areas, as currently practised and being developed after the National Audit Office's review, is sufficient, or whether the state specifically needs to address the maintenance backlog on state-owned hiking trails in the mountains.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee welcomes the National Audit Office's review and agrees that the state's management of protected nature falls short in several respects. It welcomes the government's steps already taken and announced - the mandate to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the agency's action plan, and the forthcoming national biodiversity strategy and action plan - and notes that protected areas are an asset for local and regional development, tourism, public health and rural development, while landowners' interests must also be considered. On that basis the committee rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (SD)
The reservation (SD) wants the state to take a clear role in addressing the maintenance backlog on state-owned hiking trails in the mountains, including through clearing and upkeep. The reason given is that the trails are at times overloaded, which wears on nature and worsens the visitor experience, and that limiting tourism would instead disadvantage the affected counties and their residents.
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 2 by SD.
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 113–63Nej 53–123
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 | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 0/0/93/13 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/16/2 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/20/4 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 15/0/0/1 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | No 0/62/0/10 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:492 by Mikael Larsson (C) requests 1 and 2, 2024/25:591 by Josef Fransson (SD) request 1, 2024/25:1450 by Tobias Andersson and others (SD) request 10, 2024/25:1613 by Ulrika Heie (C) request 3, 2024/25:2485 by Stina Larsson and others (C) request 2, 2024/25:2634 by Rebecka Le Moine and others (MP) request 1 and 2024/25:3285 by Anna-Caren Sätherberg and others (S) request 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:492 av Mikael Larsson (C) yrkandena 1 och 2, 2024/25:591 av Josef Fransson (SD) yrkande 1, 2024/25:1450 av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 10, 2024/25:1613 av Ulrika Heie (C) yrkande 3, 2024/25:2485 av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C) yrkande 2, 2024/25:2634 av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP) yrkande 1 och 2024/25:3285 av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: Parliament has considered a letter from the government based on the Swedish National Audit Office's audit report on the management of protected nature. Sweden's land area consists of 15 percent protected nature, which includes the country's nature reserves and national parks. Parliament has decided that the protected areas should be managed with high ambition levels. The National Audit Office points to several deficiencies in management and provides recommendations to the government, the Environmental Protection Agency and the county administrative boards in its report. Parliament agrees with the National Audit Office's assessments that the state's efforts are deficient and welcomes the measures the government has proposed to improve management. According to parliament, the management of protected nature should be efficient and purposeful while contributing to fulfilling Sweden's national goals and international commitments. Parliament laid the letter to the records, which means the case was closed.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the state to address the maintenance debt for hiking trails on state land to preserve the nature experience. (SD) — Reservation 2
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 upholds the right of public access and access to nature experiences and requires deliberate work for good conditions for ecosystems, which presupposes that the state maintains its infrastructure on its own land.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan upholds the right of public access and access to nature experiences and requires deliberate work for good conditions for ecosystems, which presupposes that the state maintains its infrastructure on its own land. The plan also requires the state to take greater responsibility for infrastructure throughout the country and that protected areas do not deplete rural areas. A clearer state responsibility for maintenance debt thus follows from the commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen värnar allemansrätten och tillgången till naturupplevelser och kräver ett medvetet arbete för goda villkor för ekosystemen, vilket förutsätter att staten sköter lederna på sin egen mark. Planen kräver också att staten tar ett större ansvar för infrastruktur i hela landet och att skyddade områden inte utarmar landsbygden. Ett tydligare statligt ansvar för underhållsskulden följer därför av åtagandena.
- right of public access is uphelddecisive»Allemansrätten, som ger var och en fritt« (party programme ↗)“The right of public access, which gives everyone freedom”
- access to nature experiences»En god samhällsplanering som ser till att människor har nära till idrottsanläggningar« (party programme ↗)“Good societal planning that ensures people have close access to sports facilities”
- state responsibility throughout the country»Utbyggnaden av transportinfrastruktur och fiber går alldeles för sakta, staten behöver gå in och ta ett större ansvar för utbyggnaden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The expansion of transport infrastructure and fibre is going far too slowly, the state needs to step in and take greater responsibility for the expansion.”
- care for natural values»skapa goda villkor för rika ekosystem, bland annat genom att återställa« (party programme ↗)“create good conditions for rich ecosystems, among other things through restoring”
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 binds the party to protect biological diversity and identifies the mountain environment as threatened, while the whole country shall be able to live and develop.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan binds the party to protect biological diversity and identifies the mountain environment as threatened, while the whole country shall be able to live and develop. The state taking responsibility for maintaining hiking trails on state land reduces wear on nature and strengthens the affected regions, which is in line with these principles. The plan does, however, say nothing about trail maintenance, so the position rests on general principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen förbinder partiet att skydda den biologiska mångfalden och pekar ut fjällmiljön som hotad, samtidigt som hela landet ska kunna leva och utvecklas. Att staten tar ansvar för underhållet av vandringsleder på statlig mark minskar slitaget på naturen och stärker de berörda regionerna, vilket ligger i linje med dessa principer. Planen säger dock ingenting om ledunderhåll, så ställningstagandet vilar på allmänna principer.
- protect natural valuesdecisive»biologiska mångfalden måste skyddas.« (party programme ↗)“biological diversity must be protected.”
- threat to mountain environment»Kalfjällen riskerar att växa igen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The mountain pastures risk growing over.”
- the whole country shall live»Alla har ett gemensamt intresse av att hela landet kan leva och utvecklas.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has a shared interest in the whole country being able to live and develop.”
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 wants to give more money so more people can enjoy Swedish nature and protect Sweden's unique contiguous mountain forests, and the party programme sees investments in nature conservation and modern ecotourism as an asset.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to give more money so more people can enjoy Swedish nature and protect Sweden's unique contiguous mountain forests, and the party programme sees investments in nature conservation and modern ecotourism as an asset. A maintenance backlog where overloaded trails wear on nature conflicts with these commitments. The plan therefore supports the state taking clearer responsibility for trails on state land.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill ge mer pengar så att fler kan njuta av svensk natur och skydda de unika sammanhängande fjällskogarna, och partiprogrammet ser investeringar i naturvård och modern ekoturism som en tillgång. En underhållsskuld där överbelastade leder sliter på naturen strider mot dessa åtaganden. Planen stöder därför att staten tar ett tydligare ansvar för lederna på statlig mark.
- accessible nature for more peopledecisive»ge mer pengar till friluftsorganisationerna så att fler kan njuta av svensk natur.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“give more money to outdoor organisations so more people can enjoy Swedish nature.”
- nature conservation and ecotourism»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 ecotourism can create many green jobs.”
- protection of mountain nature»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, including our unique contiguous mountain forests and protected forests throughout the country.”
- wear on nature must be counteracted»Idag hotas arter av utrotning och hela skogar, stränder, våtmarker och andra naturmiljöer riskerar att förstöras på grund av kortsiktigt tänkande och vinningslystnad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Today species are threatened with extinction and entire forests, shores, wetlands and other natural environments risk being destroyed due to short-term thinking and greed.”
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 states that tourism has great importance for the development of the whole country and needs better infrastructure to grow, and that Sweden's nature shall be cared for.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that tourism has great importance for the development of the whole country and needs better infrastructure to grow, and that Sweden's nature shall be cared for. The party programme emphasizes that the values of nature must be usable by all and that nature-related tourism creates jobs. State maintenance of mountain trails follows from these commitments, while the alternative of limiting tourism goes against them.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att besöksnäringen har stor betydelse för hela landets utveckling och behöver bättre infrastruktur för att växa, och att Sveriges natur ska vårdas. Partiprogrammet betonar att naturens värden måste kunna nyttjas av alla och att naturnära turism skapar jobb. Statligt underhåll av fjällederna följer av dessa åtaganden, medan alternativet att begränsa turismen strider mot dem.
- growing tourism across the countrydecisive»Besöksnäringen har stor betydelse för hela landets utveckling, och för att den ska kunna fortsätta växa krävs också bättre kommunikationer och infrastruktur.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tourism has great importance for the development of the whole country, and for it to be able to continue growing also requires better communications and infrastructure.”
- cared-for nature»Sveriges natur ska vårdas och den biologiska mångfalden utvecklas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's nature shall be cared for and biodiversity developed.”
- everyone's 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 share.”
- nature-related tourism creates jobs»Naturnära turism och upplevelser kan skapa både förståelse för miljöutmaningarna och nya jobb.« (party programme ↗)“Nature-related tourism and experiences can create both understanding of environmental challenges and new 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 plan requires that nature conservation experiences a renaissance and that the public's access to forests, land and shores is preserved, with the mountains preserved also for the next generation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that nature conservation experiences a renaissance and that the public's access to forests, land and shores is preserved, with the mountains preserved also for the next generation. Neglected maintenance of state mountain trails goes against both these commitments, which is why the counter-proposal's demand for a clearer state role in clearing and ongoing maintenance follows from the plan. The plan simultaneously opens for special outdoor facilities being financed through user fees.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att naturvården får en renässans och att allmänhetens tillgång till skog, mark och stränder värnas, med fjällen bevarade också för nästa generation. Ett eftersatt underhåll av statliga fjälleder går emot båda dessa åtaganden, varför motförslagets krav på en tydligare statlig roll för röjning och löpande underhåll följer av planen. Planen öppnar samtidigt för att särskilda friluftsanläggningar finansieras med användaravgifter.
- public access to naturedecisive»Allmänhetens tillgång till skog, mark och stränder ska värnas.« (party programme ↗)“The public's access to forests, land and shores shall be preserved.”
- mountains preserved for next generation»Sveriges fjäll, skogar och marker är fantastiska – och ska vara det också för nästa generation.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's mountains, forests and lands are fantastic – and shall be so also for the next generation.”
- nature conservation prioritized»Naturvården måste få en renässans.« (party programme ↗)“Nature conservation must experience a renaissance.”
- cooperation with landowners»markägare och lokalbefolkning i naturvård och viltförvaltning.« (party programme ↗)“landowners and local population 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.
According to the plan, stewardship includes both common assets, and national parks and outdoor life close to people shall be preserved for future generations.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
According to the plan, stewardship includes both common assets, and national parks and outdoor life close to people shall be preserved for future generations. The state also has responsibility for ensuring that state services are available throughout Sweden. The state taking clearer responsibility for maintaining hiking trails on state land in the mountains, rather than limiting visitors, follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Förvaltarskapet omfattar enligt planen också de gemensamma tillgångarna, och nationalparker och friluftsliv nära människor ska bevaras för kommande generationer. Staten har dessutom ansvar för att statlig service är tillgänglig i hela Sverige. Att staten tar ett tydligare ansvar för underhållet av vandringsleder på statlig mark i fjällen, i stället för att begränsa besökare, följer av dessa åtaganden.
- stewardship of common assetsdecisive»Ansvaret att förvalta gäller såväl de egna som de gemensamma tillgångarna.« (party programme ↗)“Responsibility for stewardship applies to both one's own and common assets.”
- preserve national natural heritage»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.”
- state presence throughout the country»den statliga servicen är tillgänglig i hela Sverige.« (party programme ↗)“state services are available throughout Sweden.”
- outdoor life for all»möjlighet till friluftsliv finns på nära håll« (party programme ↗)“opportunity for outdoor life 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 commits to upgrading existing and, if needed, creating new trails in national parks and state nature reserves and to clarifying the public's responsibility for outdoor recreation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan commits to upgrading existing and, if needed, creating new trails in national parks and state nature reserves and to clarifying the public's responsibility for outdoor recreation. Nature should be protected but at the same time be accessible to more people, not closed off to visitors. The counter-proposal's demand that the state take a clearer responsibility for the maintenance backlog on mountain trails, without limiting tourism, is therefore the plan's own line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig att rusta upp befintliga och vid behov skapa nya leder i nationalparker och statliga naturreservat och att tydliggöra det offentligas ansvar för friluftslivet. Naturen ska skyddas men samtidigt vara tillgänglig för fler, inte stängas för besökare. Motförslagets krav på att staten tar ett tydligare ansvar för underhållsskulden på fjällederna, utan att begränsa turismen, är därmed planens egen linje.
- state responsibility for trailsdecisive»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 ↗)“There is a need for more state resources to manage and maintain areas with valuable nature, as well as to upgrade existing and, if needed, create new trails in national parks and state nature reserves.”
- accessible nature for more»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 people through investments in trails and outdoor facilities”
- protection and accessibility»Sveriges fantastiska natur ska skyddas och vara tillgänglig så att var och en kan njuta av den.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's fantastic nature should be protected and be accessible so that everyone can enjoy it.”
- 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 election manifesto highlights that the value of recreation and tourism in the countryside is enormous and that policy should be made for all of Sweden, not just the big cities.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto highlights that the value of recreation and tourism in the countryside is enormous and that policy should be made for all of Sweden, not just the big cities. A clearer state responsibility for maintaining fell trails, without limiting tourism, thus points in the plan's direction. The party programme's stewardship thinking and protection of the everyman's right strengthen the conclusion, while the very maintenance debt is not addressed explicitly.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lyfter fram att värdet av rekreation och turism på landsbygden är enormt och att politiken ska tas fram för hela Sverige, inte bara storstäderna. Ett tydligare statligt ansvar för underhåll av fjällederna, utan att begränsa turismen, ligger därför i planens riktning. Partiprogrammets förvaltarskapstanke och värnandet av allemansrätten stärker slutsatsen, medan just underhållsskulden inte behandlas uttryckligen.
- countryside tourism valuedecisive»Värdet på mineraler i marken, på skogar och potentialen för rekreation och turism är enorm på landsbygden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The value of minerals in the ground, forests and the potential for recreation and tourism is enormous in the countryside.”
- policy for the whole country»Bedriva en politik för hela Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Conduct a policy for all of Sweden”
- protected everyman's right»Sverigedemokraterna slår vakt om allemansrätten« (party programme ↗)“Sweden Democrats protect the everyman's right”
- nature's beauty values»de skönhetsvärden som finns inbäddade i naturen« (party programme ↗)“the beauty values that are embedded in nature”
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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