These are old mountain forests that have never been cut down, unique forests with great biological diversity that are now being protected.

- It is a long-term protection that means protection to prepare for reserve formation, says Director General Björn Risinger at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

In the forest investigation, a so-called mountain forest package was proposed where 500,000 hectares were proposed to be protected, where 100,000 hectares were pointed out that Sveaskog was proposed to formally protect.

And that is what is now happening, state the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and Sveaskog.

- Protecting the designated areas contributes to several Swedish environmental quality goals, such as

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The prospective nature reserves also contribute to Sweden's international commitments to protect biological diversity in the forest and increased formal protection of forests and land, says Björn Risinger, director general of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

Sveaskog: "A way to create varied forestry"

It will also contribute significantly to achieving international biodiversity commitments, such as those agreed at the UN Biodiversity Summit in Montreal before Christmas.

- 75 percent of the 100,000 hectares were already set aside because they have high natural values, so this does not mean a loss of volume in terms of timber.

This is a way for us to create a varied forestry, says Erik Brandsma, CEO of Sveaskog.

Of the 100,000 hectares, approximately 48,000 hectares are productive forest and comprise a total of 108 areas in Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Jämtland and Dalarna counties.

• In Norrbotten County, there are 57 areas comprising a total of approximately 31,000 hectares of productive forest land

• In Västerbotten County, there are 39 areas comprising approximately 12,500 hectares of productive forest land

• In Jämtland County, it is an area comprising just under 300 hectares of productive forest land

• In Dalarna County, there are eleven areas comprising approximately 4,000 hectares of productive forest land

Maps of the affected areas can be found here.

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The forest's natural values ​​are shown in a new database: red areas are "hotspots": natural forests with high biological diversity with good life opportunities for threatened species.

Blue areas: "cold spots" - production forest with low natural values.

Photo: Marie Selander/SVT, Swedish University of Agriculture