Threats to biological diversity are increasing in Sweden.

According to the latest red list from 2020, 2,249 plant and animal species are threatened with extinction, 11 percent more than five years earlier.

- It's on its way to hell, says Mikael Svensson, environmental analyst at the SLU Artdatabanken, which produces the red list.

Decreases by a billion

To reverse the trend, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency wants the government to more than double the allocation for the protection of valuable nature from SEK 1.7 billion to SEK 4 billion next year.

But instead the government is cutting the money to 685 million in 2025. According to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, this could mean that landowners who want to form nature reserves will not be able to do so.

- In some cases, it can also happen that really valuable forests are felled instead of being protected, says Claes Svedlindh, head of department at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

The money for measures for valuable nature, i.e. caring for the natural areas that are already protected, will also be reduced by 931 million for next year. 

The minister: invests over two billion

Despite the cuts, Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) says that the government is adamant that the proportion of protected nature in Sweden should increase to 30 percent of the land area by 2030. Today, 15 percent are nature reserves or other formally protected nature, and another 3 percent are made up of voluntary allocations in forestry.

- Yes, Sweden has signed to do it in an EU context, so all EU countries are obliged to do it.

But Sweden will of course take on the task with great ambition, says Romina Pourmokhtari.

But how will it happen when you cut back on money for valuable nature?

- We continue to invest over two billion in the protection of valuable nature (ed. note: including measures for valuable nature).

But the previous government has had many ventures that have ended when this government took over.

Now you have to work with new tools in the toolbox and try to find ways to protect valuable nature with the over two billion that you have available in that area, says Romina Pourmokhtari.