Every Wednesday afternoon during the autumn, Protect the Forest’s local group gathers in Stockholm in front of the Riksdag to protest against the government’s forest policy.
We demand increased protection of forests with high conservation values, long-term sustainable forestry that works in harmony with biodiversity, and fulfilment of the EU’s goals for the protection of forests and land to which the Swedish Government has committed itself. (See also Protect the Forest’s goals).
The demonstration is also a direct reaction to the government’s current forest investigation – an investigation that wants to exacerbate the crisis in the forest. The proposals in this inquiry run counter to
The investigation has been criticized by researchers, among other things because the proposal for increased fertilization endangers biodiversity in the forest. Instead of increasing carbon sequestration, it is proposed to change the way of calculating the climate benefit – a number-crunching that smooths over problems instead of solving them. There are also proposals to facilitate the abolition of formal nature protections, such as nature reserves.
In summary, the forest investigation is more of a forest execution! We need to protect more forests and secure protection in the long term!
Talk to us about the forest
Our regular presence in front of the Riksdag, every Wednesday between 4-6 pm, is also an invitation to meet us and ask questions about the forest, about Protect the Forest’s goals and why we oppose the government’s current forest policy and the latest forest inquiry. We welcome both curious and doubters – come and talk to us!
If you want to get involved, you are also welcome to meet us there, get to know the local group and get tips on what you can do for the forest.
Sources:
EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/SV/legal-content/summary/eu-biodiversity-strategy-for-2030.html
The Swedish Forest Agency, “Follow-up of environmental objectives in the forest: efforts are not enough”, published 31 March 2025, https://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/nyhetslista/uppfoljning-av-miljomalen-i-skogen-insatserna-racker-inte-till/
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, “The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s basis for the government’s climate report 2025”, published 11 April 2025, https://www.naturvardsverket.se/496e4f/globalassets/amnen/klimatomstallning/klimatredovisning/naturvardsverkets-underlag-till-regeringens-klimatredovisning-2025.pdf
DN, “Researcher criticism of forest investigation: “Can counteract climate requirements””, published 28 August 2025, https://www.dn.se/sverige/forskarkritik-mot-skogsutredning-kan-motverka-klimatkrav/
Protect the forest, “The Forest Inquiry wants to exacerbate crisis in the forest”, published 1 September 2025, https://skyddaskogen.se/skogsutredningen-vill-forvarra-kris-i-skogen/