Protecting Forests in Sweden: Biological, Social and Climatic Implications

Abstract

Nature and people are being exploited all over the world, not least in Sweden. The forest and ancient traditions rooted in the Scandinavian taiga are now under hard pressure from the logging industry. Sweden is still far from reaching the Nagoya Aichi targets, having only 5% of formally protected forest as compared to the 17 % target. Especially the old growth forest in the north of Sweden is under great threat, even if it has belonged to the indigenous people of Sweden for hundreds of years. This is a form of ongoing colonization legitimized by the State. Even today, Sweden's ambition level is low when it comes to its native people. Sweden has still not yet ratified, in contrast to Norway, the most important international convention on indigenous rights, the ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples. Unlike Finland, Sweden has not even recognized in the Constitution status of its native people as original inhabitants of the land. Complience toward the logging industry and not recognizing indigenous people and their livelihoods also have harsh environmental consequences, as clear-cutting releases large volumes of greenhouse gases. Forests need to be protected for their biological, social and cultural values, recognizing that resilient forest ecosystems will be necessary to mitigate and withstand climate change.