Swedish forestry and forest policy

Forests cover 57% of the land area in Sweden; 26% of this is publicly owned, most being located in the less productive northern area and commonly managed by the National Forest Enterprise. Some 47% of the growing stock is of Norway spruce, 38% Scots pine; most of the remaining 15% hardwood component is birch. In S Sweden, softwoods are managed on 70- to 110-yr rotations. Northern sites have 80- 140-yr rotations. Clearfelling is common. Forest management is tightly regulated, eg a site must be replanted within 3 years. There is a high regard to environmental quality. Throughout this review comparisons are made with the US situation. -P.J.Jarvis