According to the EU's forest strategy, which is part of the so-called green deal, member states are to map and strictly protect all primeval and natural forests.
However, according to a report from WWF, Sweden and Finland, the two countries with the largest areas of these important forests, are failing to meet both points.
High thresholds
According to WWF, the Swedish government has given instructions to authorities that mean Sweden does not need to protect large areas of primeval and natural forests. In both Sweden and Finland, the thresholds for classifying forests as natural forests are set so high that as little as possible needs to be protected.
The governments are doing this because they have an excessive faith in bioeconomy solving all problems in creating a fossil-free society, without it affecting sustainability, says Peter Roberntz.
The Swedish government, for example, wants to increase forest production to obtain more biomass.
Protecting and preserving biodiversity becomes secondary, says Roberntz.
The report also reveals examples of how countries are failing to map their forests. In Finland, primeval and natural forests have never been systematically mapped. This means that significant areas may be clear-cut.
About 8-10 percent of all forest land in Sweden is natural forest without strict protection. More than half of this is productive forest land, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Forestry Agency. Annually, around 20,000 hectares of so-called natural-type classified forest are clear-cut, with the majority being natural forest, according to SLU.
Gone forever
Primeval and natural forests are important for many endangered species. They can disappear from the area forever if the forests are clear-cut and then become production forests.
This can also affect the reindeer industry and tourism.
Tourism is dependent on having environments that foreign and Swedish tourists want to visit, says Peter Roberntz.
Rural Affairs Minister Peter Kullgren (KD) denies that Sweden is encouraging the clear-cutting of primeval and old forests, and accuses WWF of mixing up different types of forests.
"Sweden is leading when it comes to forest protection. Over 25 percent of Sweden's forests have already been taken out of production, and more than 10 percent are already strictly protected", he says in a written comment.
Primeval forest – forest that shows no signs of human impact.
Natural forest – a broader concept that includes forests affected by humans, but with many of the characteristics of primeval forests. For example, there are dead trees and natural regeneration.
Planted forest – forest that mainly consists of planted trees.
Forest plantation – planted forest with one or two tree species that are intensively cultivated, where all trees are approximately the same age and planted at a regular distance from each other.
Forest plantations and planted forests have low natural values.
Sources: WWF, Forestry Agency, Environmental Protection Agency
