2026-06-162025/26:MJU29 · p.2MJUEnvironment & agriculture
A clear regulatory framework for active forestry
Adopting the legislative changes for a clearer regulatory framework for active forestry
What's at stake: The decision determines whether forestry rules become clearer and more predictable for landowners while the production and environmental goals remain co-equal, or whether further deregulation risks reinforcing an already ongoing decline in forest biodiversity.
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 parliament should adopt the government's legislative proposals to simplify and clarify forestry regulation, or whether the proposals instead undermine the balance between the production and environmental goals against the backdrop of an already deteriorating state of biodiversity.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee endorses the government's legislative proposals in full and rejects the motion, pointing out that active forestry with high growth increases access to sustainably produced biomass and helps maintain the balance between the two co-equal forest-policy goals, and that clearer, simpler rules strengthen property rights and predictability for forest owners.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (V)
The reservation (V) wants to reject the government's proposal. The reasoning is that the underlying inquiry aimed to strengthen deregulation and production in forestry while claiming the production and environmental goals remain co-equal, which the reservers consider contradictory; they point to agency reports showing a serious state of forest biodiversity, driven by strong economic incentives for production and insufficient incentives to protect the environment, as well as to large areas of high-value forest being logged every year.
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: adopting the government's legislative proposal and rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 2 by V.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | Yes 105/0/0/1 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | Abstain 4/0/14/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | Yes | Yes 24/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 18/0/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 66/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | Yes | Yes 70/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| MPAnnika Hirvonen (MP, Stockholms län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
| MPEmma Berginger (MP, Skåne läns södra) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
| MPJacob Risberg (MP, Uppsala län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
| MPRebecka Le Moine (MP, Östergötlands län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag adopts the Government's proposal for 1. law amending the Environmental Code with the amendment that chapter 16, section 13 and chapter 29, section 4 shall have the wording proposed by the committee in appendix 3, 2. law amending the Forestry Act (1979:429), 3. law amending the Law (2010:921) on land and environment courts, 4. law amending the Law (2026:000) amending the Law (2010:921) on land and environment courts, 5. law amending the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400). Thereby, the Riksdag grants proposition 2025/26:242 points 1-5 and rejects the motion 2025/26:4141 by Kajsa Fredholm et al. (V).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar regeringens förslag till 1. lag om ändring i miljöbalken med den ändringen att 16 kap. 13 § och 29 kap. 4 § ska ha den lydelse som utskottet föreslår i bilaga 3, 2. lag om ändring i skogsvårdslagen (1979:429), 3. lag om ändring i lagen (2010:921) om mark- och miljödomstolar, 4. lag om ändring i lagen (2026:000) om ändring i lagen (2010:921) om mark- och miljödomstolar, 5. lag om ändring i offentlighets- och sekretesslagen (2009:400). Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2025/26:242 punkterna 1-5 och avslår motion 2025/26:4141 av Kajsa Fredholm m.fl. (V).
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the Government's proposal for several regulatory simplifications in forestry. The law amendments include among other things the following: Notification for consultation on forestry measures under the Environmental Code is needed only if it follows from regulations as determined by the Government. The landowner's cost for acquiring the knowledge needed before a forestry measure is taken, for example regarding protected species in a forest area, shall be reasonable in relation to the property's value. The secrecy protecting animal and plant species is amended so that landowners are given access to the information needed to determine whether consultation is required. Decisions by the Swedish Forest Agency (Skogsstyrelsen) under the Forestry Act shall be appealed to a land and environment court instead of to an administrative court. The deadline for non-profit environmental organizations to appeal decisions on forestry or forestry measures shall be calculated from the day the decision was communicated. Furthermore, the Swedish Forest Agency shall be given party status when environmental organizations appeal the authority's decision. The proposal aims among other things to strengthen property rights and increase predictability for forest owners. The law amendments shall mainly enter into force on 1 January 2027. The provision that the consultation obligation under the Environmental Code shall apply only if it follows from an ordinance shall, however, apply only from the day the Government determines.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the proposition rejected because it weakens protection of biodiversity and the environment in forestry. (V) — 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 points to overuse of natural resources as a cause of depleted biological diversity and requires that clearcutting be phased out and strong protection of forests with rich ecosystems.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan points to overuse of natural resources as a cause of depleted biological diversity and requires that clearcutting be phased out and strong protection of forests with rich ecosystems. The counter-proposal objects that the regulations strengthen deregulation and production while diversity continues to deteriorate and high-value forests are felled. That is precisely the weighing the plan makes, and the plan thus supports the counter-proposal's demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen pekar ut överutnyttjandet av naturresurser som orsak till utarmad biologisk mångfald och kräver att kalhyggesbruket fasas ut samt ett starkt skydd av skog med rika ekosystem. Motförslaget invänder mot att regelverket stärker avreglering och produktion medan mångfalden fortsätter försämras och skogar med höga naturvärden avverkas. Det är precis den avvägning planen gör, och planen stöder därmed motförslagets krav.
- phased-out clearcuttingdecisive»För att uppnå klimatmålen behöver skogens funktion som kolsänka bevaras de kommande decennierna, därför behöver kalhyggesbruket fasas ut.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To achieve climate goals, forest's function as a carbon sink must be preserved in the coming decades, which is why clearcutting must be phased out.”
- safeguard biological diversity»Ett ständigt överutnyttjande av naturens resurser leder till kraftig utarmning av den biologiska mångfalden och växthusgasutsläpp.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Continuous overuse of nature's resources leads to sharp depletion of biological diversity and greenhouse gas emissions.”
- strong forest protection»behövs ett starkt skydd av skog med rika ekosystem« (party programme ↗)“strong protection of forest with rich ecosystems is needed”
- limited biomass»Biomassan är en begränsad resurs« (party programme ↗)“Biomass is a limited resource”
The plan demands that forestry is active but simultaneously protects climate and environment and that biological diversity is protected.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that forestry is active but simultaneously protects climate and environment and that biological diversity is protected. A bill whose purpose is described as deregulation and increased production, in a situation where large areas with high nature values are clear-cut, stands in conflict with that commitment. The plan particularly warns that strong economic interests are allowed to overexploit natural resources.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att skogsbruket är aktivt men samtidigt värnar klimat och miljö och att den biologiska mångfalden skyddas. Lagförslag vars syfte beskrivs som avreglering och ökad produktion, i ett läge där stora arealer med höga naturvärden avverkas, står i strid med det åtagandet. Planen varnar särskilt för att starka ekonomiska intressen tillåts överutnyttja naturtillgångarna.
- active but sustainable forestrydecisive»Aktivt och hållbart skogsbruk som bidrar till svensk tillväxt« (party programme ↗)“Active and sustainable forestry that contributes to Swedish growth”
- protect biological diversity»Värn av biologisk mångfald och Sveriges värdefulla natur och vattenmiljöer.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of biological diversity and Sweden's valuable nature and water environments.”
- curb capital interests in nature»Under lång tid har kapitalintressen tillåtits överutnyttja naturtillgångarna.« (party programme ↗)“For a long time, capital interests have been allowed to overexploit natural resources.”
- halt species extinction»Samtidigt accelererar artdöden och den biologiska mångfalden hotas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Meanwhile, species extinction accelerates and biological diversity is threatened.”
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 states that short-term economic interests have too often come before long-term sustainability and that intensive forestry has created a shortage of habitats for many species.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that short-term economic interests have too often come before long-term sustainability and that intensive forestry has created a shortage of habitats for many species. It requires protection of protected forests and more clear-cutting-free forestry. A regulatory framework that increases production focus and deregulates conservation requirements counteracts these commitments and the serious situation for biological diversity in forests. The counter-proposal's opposition to the bills is therefore supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen konstaterar att kortsiktiga ekonomiska intressen alltför ofta gått före långsiktig hållbarhet och att det intensiva skogsbruket skapat brist på livsmiljöer för många arter. Den kräver skydd av skyddsvärda skogar och mer hyggesfritt skogsbruk. Ett regelverk som ökar produktionsinriktningen och avreglerar hänsynskraven motverkar dessa åtaganden och det allvarliga läget för den biologiska mångfalden i skogen. Motförslagets motstånd mot lagförslagen stöds därför.
- sustainability before short-term profitdecisive»Kortsiktiga ekonomiska intressen går alltför ofta före långsiktig hållbarhet i det svenska« (party programme ↗)“Short-term economic interests too often come before long-term sustainability in Swedish”
- protect protected forests»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 contiguous mountain forests and protected forests throughout the country.”
- criticism of intensive forestry»Det intensiva skogsbruket har blivit så heltäckande i stora delar av Sverige« (party programme ↗)“Intensive forestry has become so comprehensive in large parts of Sweden”
- clear-cutting-free methods»att mer skogsbruk bedrivs med hyggesfria metoder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that more forestry is conducted with clear-cutting-free methods.”
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 forest line is that sustainable forestry requires active management and that forestry needs good conditions based on strong property rights.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's forest line is that sustainable forestry requires active management and that forestry needs good conditions based on strong property rights. The counter-proposal wants to stop exactly a clearer framework for active forestry. The plan also meets concerns about diversity with voluntariness and owner power rather than tightened restrictions. Therefore the demand is rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planens skogslinje är att ett hållbart skogsbruk förutsätter ett aktivt brukande och att skogsbruket behöver goda förutsättningar grundade i en stark äganderätt. Motförslaget vill stoppa just ett tydligare regelverk för aktivt skogsbruk. Planen möter dessutom oron för mångfalden med frivillighet och ägarmakt snarare än med skärpta begränsningar. Därför avvisas kravet.
- active forest managementdecisive»Skogen är en nyckel i den gröna omställningen. Ett hållbart skogsbruk förutsätter ett aktivt brukande av skogen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The forest is a key to the green transition. Sustainable forestry requires active management of the forest.”
- strong property rights in forestry»Skogsbruket behöver goda förutsättningar grundade i en stark äganderätt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Forestry needs good conditions based on strong property rights.”
- voluntariness over restrictions»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 facilitate landowners' ability to contribute, as voluntariness and property rights are the foundation for better nature conservation.”
- simpler regulations»Klimatet kan inte vänta på dyra och krångliga regelverk.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Climate cannot wait for expensive and complicated regulations.”
The plan wants the potential of the forest to be utilized and Swedish forestry to be protected, within the framework of two equal goals for production and environment.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants the potential of the forest to be utilized and Swedish forestry to be protected, within the framework of two equal goals for production and environment. The counter-proposal rejects the entire regulatory framework for active forestry, which goes further than the plan's line. The plan's requirement for increased environmental consideration remains as a boundary, but does not lead to the proposals being stopped.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att skogens potential tillvaratas och att det svenska skogsbruket värnas, inom ramen för två jämställda mål för produktion och miljö. Motförslaget avvisar hela regelverket för aktivt skogsbruk, vilket går längre än planens linje. Planens krav på ökad miljöhänsyn kvarstår som en gräns, men leder inte till att förslagen ska stoppas.
- protected Swedish forestrydecisive»Allemansrätten och det svenska skogsbruket ska värnas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The right to roam and Swedish forestry shall be protected”
- utilize the forest's potential»Skogens potential inom förnybara material, kemiska produkter, textilier och energiproduktion ska tillvaratas.« (party programme ↗)“The forest's potential in renewable materials, chemical products, textiles and energy production shall be utilized.”
- equal forest policy goals»Den svenska skogspolitiken ska vila på två jämställda mål, produktionsmålet och miljömålet.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish forest policy shall rest on two equal goals, the production goal and the environmental goal.”
- increased environmental consideration»Miljöhänsynen inom skogsbruket måste öka.« (party programme ↗)“Environmental consideration in forestry must increase.”
The party programme requires comprehensive long-term rules for forestry and that production and environmental targets have equal priority and dignity.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires comprehensive long-term rules for forestry and that production and environmental targets have equal priority and dignity. The counter-proposal wants to stop the bills arguing that simplifications and production focus are incompatible with equal targets. The plan sees clear rules instead as a way to strengthen property rights, and the requirement for environmental consideration is handled within the same regulatory framework.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet kräver övergripande långsiktiga spelregler för skogsbruket och att produktions- och miljömålen har samma prioritet och dignitet. Motförslaget vill stoppa lagförslagen med argumentet att förenklingar och produktionsfokus är oförenliga med jämställda mål. Planen ser tvärtom tydliga regler som ett sätt att stärka äganderätten, och kravet på naturhänsyn hanteras inom samma regelverk.
- equal forestry policy goalsdecisive»Det är angeläget att dessa mål har samma prioritet och dignitet vid utformandet av den övergripande skogspolitiken.« (party programme ↗)“It is important that these goals have equal priority and dignity in the design of comprehensive forestry policy.”
- long-term forestry rules»För att svenskt skogsbruk och skogsindustri ska kunna utvecklas krävs övergripande långsiktiga och hållbara spelregler som främjar såväl produktions som miljömål.« (party programme ↗)“For Swedish forestry and forest industry to develop requires comprehensive long-term and sustainable rules that promote both production and environmental goals.”
- protected property rights in forest»äganderätten över skogen hotas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“property rights over forest are threatened”
- environmental consideration in forest landscape»Bevarande av den biologiska mångfalden kräver både reservatsskydd i olika former och stor naturhänsyn i skogs och jordbrukslandskapet.« (party programme ↗)“Preservation of biological diversity requires both reserve protection in various forms and careful environmental consideration in forest and agricultural landscapes.”
The plan explicitly wants more active forestry: more forest shall be managed, the area of protected forest shall decrease and regulations shall become simpler with stronger property rights.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly wants more active forestry: more forest shall be managed, the area of protected forest shall decrease and regulations shall become simpler with stronger property rights. The counter-proposal opposes the legislation precisely because it strengthens production and deregulation. The plan thus stands against the counter-proposal's demands.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill uttryckligen ha ett aktivare skogsbruk: mer skog ska brukas, arealen undantagen skog ska minska och regelverket ska bli enklare med starkare äganderätt. Motförslaget motsätter sig lagförslagen just för att de stärker produktion och avreglering. Planen står därmed emot motförslagets krav.
- active forestrydecisive»mer skog ska brukas, inte mindre« (2022 manifesto ↗)“more forest shall be managed, not less”
- less forest out of production»Minska ytan av skog som är undantagen från skogsbruk« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the area of forest that is excluded from forestry”
- voluntariness in forest protection»Stärka skogsägarnas äganderätt genom att formellt skydd av skog ska ske genom frivillighet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen forest owners' property rights through formal forest protection shall take place through voluntariness”
- diversity through management, not setting aside»Vårda redan skyddad skog bättre för att stärka den biologiska mångfalden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Care for already protected forest better to strengthen biological diversity”
The plan establishes that forest owners' right to manage their forests shall be protected, that property rights shall be strengthened and that adapted forest management shall be prioritized over nature reserve designation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that forest owners' right to manage their forests shall be protected, that property rights shall be strengthened and that adapted forest management shall be prioritized over nature reserve designation. The counter-proposal opposes a clearer framework for active forestry on the grounds that deregulation and production are favoured at the environment's expense. The plan, on the contrary, sees diversity and active forestry as compatible and therefore speaks against the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att skogsägarnas rätt att bruka sina skogar ska värnas, att äganderätten ska stärkas och att anpassad skogsskötsel prioriteras före reservatsavsättning. Motförslaget motsätter sig ett tydligare regelverk för aktivt skogsbruk med hänvisning till att avreglering och produktion gynnas på miljöns bekostnad. Planen ser tvärtom mångfald och aktivt skogsbruk som förenliga och talar därför emot kravet.
- forest owner's right of usedecisive»Värna skogsägarnas rätt att bruka sina skogar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect forest owners' right to manage their forests.”
- adapted management before reserves»Att anpassad skogsskötsel prioriteras före reservatsavsättning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That adapted forest management shall be prioritized over nature reserve designation.”
- voluntariness creates environmental values»Erfarenheten visar att frivillighet under ansvar fungerar bäst för att skapa miljövärden, stöttat med kompetent och hjälpande rådgivning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Experience shows that voluntary action under responsibility works best for creating environmental values, supported with competent and helpful guidance.”
- strengthened property rights»Stärka äganderätten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen property rights.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:MJU29)
- Committee report full text (HD01MJU29)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:4141 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:242 Ett tydligt regelverk för aktivt skogsbruk av Kajsa Fredholm m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:4143 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:242 Ett tydligt regelverk för aktivt skogsbruk av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:4144 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:242 Ett tydligt regelverk för aktivt skogsbruk av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:4145 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:242 Ett tydligt regelverk för aktivt skogsbruk av Helena Lindahl m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:4147 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:242 Ett tydligt regelverk för aktivt skogsbruk av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2025/26:242 — Ett tydligt regelverk för aktivt skogsbruk
Source: The Swedish Parliament