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Berichte
Let the forest live!
Berichte
Let the forest live!
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Let the forest live!
Sweden’s natural forests are being logged faster than the Amazon.
It may sound surprising (Sweden is full of trees, after all!), but research from Lund University¹ ² shows that Sweden’s unprotected natural forests are now being logged at a faster rate than those in the Brazilian Amazon. The pace of logging is higher in Sweden, while of course the total volume is much greater in the Amazon (which covers an area many times larger than Sweden). The study examined forest clear-cutting of areas not previously logged since 1880.
Because of the current situation for Swedish forests and the forest policy being pursued, we at Icebug are making a clear appeal to the government: We can do better – let the forest live!
Dear Government
We urge you to act now and:
Scrap the Forestry Inquiry and carry out a complete review of today’s forest policy.
Support landowners who want to practice sustainable forestry. Many want to pursue close-to-nature methods adapted to the ecosystem’s natural conditions, but this requires resources, guidance, and financial support.
Immediately stop the logging of Sweden’s last unprotected natural forests. If we in the wealthy part of the world cannot protect our nature and live up to our commitments – who will?
Honor our international promises under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Begin valuing industries other than forestry. Nature tourism, for example, generates both income and jobs – but only if there is nature left to visit.
Implement EU environmental legislation so that Sweden can become a leader instead of ending up in the European Court of Justice for violations. Relevant EU laws include: the Habitats Directive, the Birds Directive, the Water Framework Directive, the Renewable Energy Directive, the Nature Restoration Law, among others.
Why we care
Naturally, as a company that sells gear for hiking, orienteering, and more, we have an economic interest in there being nature where our products can be used. But above all, we care because we are people who want to leave this planet in better shape for our children. The biodiversity crisis is happening now, and we hope that more companies, organizations, and individuals will join us in this appeal. Let the forest live!
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But isn’t Sweden full of forests?
Most of what many of us perceive as “forest” is in fact species-poor plantations, mainly intended for producing timber or pulp. Even if they look nice after a few decades, they are planted to maximize output of one or a few tree species, and therefore provide a much poorer habitat than a “real forest.”
By “natural forest” we mean living forests, rich in animal and plant life, with both living and dead trees. These forests are crucial for many red-listed species, but they matter for more reasons than that. Many of us want our children to experience real nature in the future too – where birds sing and life springs from the moss.
Forestry beyond nature’s limits
Since the 1950s, clear-cutting has dominated Swedish forestry. The focus has been on economic returns rather than what ecosystems can actually sustain.
Over the past 70 years, more than half of Sweden’s forests have been clear-cut³, and today only about six percent of productive forest is formally protected⁴.
This intensive forestry has certainly benefited industry and generated profits, but it has come at the expense of biodiversity, recreation values, and the forest’s ability to sequester carbon – a crucial factor in slowing climate change.
Industry often highlights forestry’s climate benefits and the importance of replacing other materials with renewables. Unfortunately, around 80 percent of what is produced from Swedish forests are short-lived products that are burned or discarded⁵.
Sweden is not living up to international commitments
Sweden has signed several international agreements to halt biodiversity loss. In the Convention on Biological Diversity (the Kunming–Montreal Framework), we committed to conserving at least 30 percent of the world’s land and marine areas by 2030.
Despite this, the government continues to prioritize growth and intensive forestry over long-term ecological values – while our national environmental objective Living Forests is showing negative progress⁶.
Nor does Sweden appear to be meeting expectations under the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which requires all member states to strictly protect remaining primary and natural forests. Instead, the trend is to exploit loopholes, allowing valuable natural forests – which cannot be restored within any foreseeable time frame – to continue being clear-cut⁷.
A report⁸ delivered to the government in March 2025 by the Swedish EPA and the Forest Agency shows that logging of likely biologically valuable forests has quadrupled during the 2020s, reaching 27,000 hectares between January 2023 and September 2025.
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A policy heading in the wrong direction
Earlier this year, the government presented a new Forestry Inquiry. Unfortunately, it once again shows that the focus lies on what benefits large forestry industries rather than what ecosystems can actually withstand.
Among other things, the proposals would make it easier to revoke nature reserves and biotope protections, putting even currently protected natural forests at risk of being logged. It also includes measures that would weaken an already dysfunctional consultation and oversight system, increasing the risk that biologically valuable forests are cut down. The inquiry also opens the door to increased fertilization and other practices enabling even more intensive forestry.
Swedish forestry and forest ownership are important to the country, but they must evolve in harmony with nature and the species that live in it. This requires both expanded protection and a shift to close-to-nature forestry. Yet today, there is little state support for individual landowners who want to develop more diverse and responsible practices. Nor is there financial compensation when protection excessively restricts landowners’ ability to manage their forest.
For those who want to know more
Naturskyddsföreningen’s report proposing 12 measures to conserve and restore forest biodiversity:
WWF explains how today’s forestry threatens Sweden’s biodiversity and why stronger protection is needed:
https://www.wwf.se/skog/sverige/
WWF report mapping how remaining primary and old-growth forests in Sweden and Finland are at risk, and how EU policy may affect their protection:
Naturarvet is a Swedish foundation that purchases and permanently protects ecologically valuable old forests:
Skydda Skogen is a Swedish NGO working to protect old forests, promote close-to-nature forestry, and conserve biodiversity:
Plockhugget explains close-to-nature forestry – forestry that respects ecosystem structures, biodiversity, and natural processes:
How we support the environmental movement
Since 2017, Icebug has partnered with Naturarvet, a foundation that buys forests of high ecological value and protects them forever. With our support, several important forests around Sweden have been secured.
We also support Skydda Skogen, WWF, and several other organizations in their work for Swedish nature. In countries like Norway, Finland, Canada, and the US, we support equivalent organizations.
References
1 – Ahlström, A., Canadell, J.G. & Metcalfe, D.B., 2022. Widespread unquantified conversion of old boreal forests to plantations. Earth’s Future, 10(12), e2022EF003221. Available at: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2022EF003221
2 – The Conversation, 2023. Sweden has vast ‘old growth’ forests – but they are being chopped down faster than the Amazon. Available at: https://theconversation.com/sweden-has-vast-old-growth-forests-but-they-are-being-chopped-down-faster-than-the-amazon-218753
3 – Naturskyddsföreningen, 2024. Sanningen om den svenska skogen. Available at: https://www.naturskyddsforeningen.se/artiklar/sanningen-om-den-svenska-skogen/
4 – Statistics Sweden (SCB), 2024. Formellt skyddad skogsmark, frivilliga avsättningar, hänsynsytor samt improduktiv skogsmark. Stockholm: SCB. Available at: https://www.scb.se/contentassets/fd24e49e0e1e40ee89c33ec07827adad/mi0605_2024a01_br_mi41br2502.pdf
5 – Lundblad, M.¹, Karltun, E.¹, Petersson, H.², Wikberg, P-E.² & Bolinder, M.³, 2023. Sammanfattning av de metoder som används i Sveriges klimatrapportering av LULUCF-sektorn. Uppsala: SLU.¹Dept. of Soil and Environment, ²Dept. of Forest Resource Management, ³Dept. of Ecology.
6 – Swedish Forest Agency, 2023. Levande skogar – fördjupad utvärdering 2023. Report 2022:12. Jönköping: Skogsstyrelsen. Available at: https://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/globalassets/om-oss/rapporter/rapporter-20222021202020192018/rapport-2022-12-levande-skogar---fordjupad-utvardering-2023.pdf
7 – WWF, 2025. Primary and old-growth forests at risk in Finland and Sweden: what will the EU’s impact be on protecting them? WWF Report. Available at: https://media.wwf.se/uploads/2025/01/primary-and-old-growth-forests-at-risk-in-finland-and-sweden--what-will-the-eus-impact-be-on-protecting-them-wwf-report-2025.pdf
8 – Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket), 2025. Uppdrag att se över den nationella strategin för formellt skydd av skog. Case no. NV-06274-22. Stockholm: Naturvårdsverket. Available at: https://www.naturvardsverket.se/4951e9/globalassets/om-oss/slutredovisade-regeringsuppdrag/oversyn-strategi-for-formellt-skydd-av-skog.pdf
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Wir nutzen unser Unternehmen, um Gutes zu tun
Bei ICEBUG sind wir fest entschlossen, die besten Schuhe herzustellen, die dir helfen, jeden Tag bei jedem Wetter nach draußen zu gehen. Darüber hinaus möchten wir unsere Branche verändern, indem wir Verantwortung für unseren ökologischen Fußabdruck übernehmen. Unser Ziel ist es, Schuhe mit langer Haltbarkeit, geringen CO2-Emissionen und mit Respekt vor Mensch und Natur zu produzieren. Ein Teil des Geldes, das du in uns investierst, fließt zurück an unseren Planeten, indem wir Organisationen unterstützen, die beispielsweise alte Wälder schützen.
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