Proposal: Increase the share of continuous-cover forestry on state land

This week we learned that, as part of a joint government assignment, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) and the Swedish Forest Agency (Skogsstyrelsen) have analyzed potential barriers to continuous-cover forestry. The agencies have produced a set of proposals and want the state to take a leading role in continuous-cover forestry.

Hyggligt sees these proposals as a clear sign that continuous-cover forestry is gaining momentum. We’re also very positive about the direction suggested for Swedish forestry.

More state-owned forest proposed to be managed with continuous-cover methods

The agencies propose that the state should take a leading role by managing 20–25% of state-owned forest with continuous-cover methods by 2050. They also propose that Sveaskog and the National Property Board of Sweden should be instructed to gradually increase the use of continuous-cover methods.

Smaller clearcuts and more natural regeneration

The report also proposes limiting the size of clearcuts. The agencies recommend that clearcuts should be no larger than two hectares in Götaland and four hectares in the rest of Sweden. In addition, they propose that at least 20% of an area should be reserved for environmental objectives where clearcut forestry (trakthyggesbruk) is used.

The report also emphasizes the importance of natural regeneration and advocates increased use of methods such as shelterwood and seed-tree systems, gap cutting (luckhuggning), and uneven-aged management (blädning) to increase the share of naturally regenerated forest area. For future plantings, the agencies suggest that at least 30% of trees should originate from natural regeneration.

Förslaget går att hitta i sin helhet på Naturvårdsverkets hemsida.

Hyggligt helps forest owners transition

“We’re very positive about this proposal, and it’s encouraging that more people than just us see continuous-cover forestry as the future of the forestry sector. The growing interest among forest owners in alternative management methods is clear—and with our simple, profitable method, we’re ready to support everyone who wants to manage their forests with continuous-cover approaches,” says Edith Heppich, CEO of Hyggligt.

Hyggligt helps forest owners—large and small—transition their forestry and optimize profitability in continuous-cover systems. With Hyggligtmetoden, continuous-cover management becomes both simple and profitable. Wherever you are in your forestry journey, we’re ready to offer our support and expertise to help move continuous-cover forestry forward.