The forest group of Tjust has reported the logging company Södra Skogsägarna to the police for several species’ protection violations in Kalmar county, Småland, Sweden. Previously, we wrote on Protect the Forest’s website about Södra Skogsägarna’s repeated violations of species protection when they cut down forests with high conservation values in Småland. Now six violations of the law have been reported to the police and a further number have been documented and will be reported.
(Red List NT= Near Threatened, VU= Vulnerable, EN=Endangered)
The reports to the police concern Södra Skogsägarna’s loggings in Västervik municipality, Kalmar county. Södra Skogsägarna has not taken into account any protected or red-listed species in its forestry. Among other things, they have wiped out habitat for the orchid Goodyera repens. It is red-listed as vulnerable (VU) and protected according to the Species Protection Ordinance §8 and 15. Non-profit surveyors have also found the near-threatened lichen Lobaria pulmonaria (NT) and the wood-living fungus Phellinidium ferrugineofuscum (NT) in Södra’s clear-cuts. Birds that are protected according to the Species Protection Ordinance and are red-listed as near-threatened have been observed by non-profit surveyors in the forests that Södra has cut down: Hazel grouse (NT), black woodpecker (NT), lesser-spotted woodpecker (NT) and willow tit (NT).
“The Swedish Forest Agency has failed completely”
The Forest Group of Tjust has repeatedly sent information to the Swedish Forest Agency about protected and red-listed species that they have encountered in the forests planned for logging. There was the opportunity to prevent violations of the law but the authority did not act. There have been violations of the Species Protection Ordinance, the Forest Protection Act and the Environmental Code. Also, Södra has not followed the criteria in the FSC certification. The Forest Group of Tjust comments:
-The Swedish Forest Agency seems to have completely failed and is doing nothing despite the submitted information and requests. It should be the duty of the regulatory authority to prevent violations of the law. This is not a single “mistake” by Södra, but appears to be a systematic and repeated pattern of breaking current legislation.
Reports to the police that the Forest Group of Tjust have made so far:
1. Ålhult, Blackstad, Västervik A 1314-2022, (4.5 ha). Södra Skogsägarna logged the forest even though the Forest Group of Tjust had submitted a request to the Swedish Forest Agency to establish a supervisory case. This is because of the red-listed and protected species Goodyera repens (VU), Phellinidium ferrugineofuscum (NT), willow tit (NT) and black woodpecker (NT) in the forest planned for logging. The area of consideration that was left was far too small and a lot of the Goodyera repens also grew outside the saved area. Until the end, non-profit conservationists tried to bring about relevant protection for the Goodyera repens premises. But Södra Skogsägarna logged the forest, despite knowing that it meant violations against the Species Protection Ordinance.
“Another habitat for the orchid Goodyera repens has been wiped out. We will never know how many orchids there once was here, but probably many more”.
2. Tibbhult, Hjorted, Västervik, Kalmar county A 51297/298-2022 (8.2 ha). On November 30, the Forest Group of Tjust visited the forest thatwas planned for logging, they report: “The ground was partly covered in snow, but still two areas were found with approx. 40 examples of Goodyera repens (VU). In addition, a hazel grouse (NT) played and other species were noted, including willow tit (NT) and Phellinidium ferrugineofuscum (NT), all mentioned species red-listed. 2022 12 05 a request was sent to the Swedish Forest Agency to establish a supervisory case and the authority confirmed that they had received this. No decision/non-decision has been communicated to us and nothing has been heard from the Swedish Forest Agency. Today 2023 03 23 the area was visited again and it could be established that Södra Skogsägarna had clear-cut the entire area. Even though machines had driven over the ground and it was full of cut down brush-wood, three areas were found with approx. 25 Goodyera repens – condemned to death in the clear-cut. Another habitat for the orchid Goodyera repens has been wiped out. We will never know how many orchids there once was here, but probably many more”.
The logging took place before the authority had made a decision
3. Kårby, Törnsfall, Västervik, Kalmar county, A19900-2022 (5.5 ha). Södra Skogsägarna logged the forest despite the fact that the Forest Group of Tjust had submitted a request for a supervisory matter to the Swedish Forest Agency regarding the occurrence of Goodyera repens. Cutting down forests where the orchid Goodyera repens (VU) grows is a violation of the species protection ordinance. The logging took place before the authority made a decision/non-decision.
4. Falsterbo, Hjorted, Västervik, Kalmar county A 54588-2022 (8.2 ha). Södra felled the forest despite the fact that the Forestry Group had submitted a request for an inspection case regarding Goodyera repens (VU) and willow tit (NT) to the Swedish Forest Agency, which did not announce any decision/non-decision.
5. Kleva, Blackstad, Västervik municipality A 40890-2022 (1.9 ha). In several places non-profit surveyors found the orchid Goodyera repens. Comment from the Forest Group in Tjust: “Brush-wood and torn up ground made it difficult to find species- probably there has been an area here with many more Goodyera repens“.
“The forest had been clear-cut and the Goodyera repens (VU) destroyed. There is no forest left for the willow tit (NT) and black woodpecker (NT).”
6. Hultserum, Blackstad, Västervik municipality, Kalmar county A 39614-2022 (2.1 ha). From the police report: “During a visit to the forest where logging was planned, Willow tit (NT) was found, which means that the area was part of the willow tit’s territory. Several other species that proved an interesting biological diversity were also noted. A request for a supervisory matter was sent to the Swedish Forest Agency. During a new visit on 09/27/2022, Goodyera repens (VU) was also found, which prompted a supplementary request that was sent to the Swedish Forest Agency on the same date. The authority has confirmed that they received the request and the supplementary request. Since then, nothing has been heard from the Swedish Forest Agency. During a visit 03/28/2023 it was confirmed that the forest had been clear-cut and the Goodyera repens habitat destroyed. There is no forest left for the willow tit (NT) and black woodpecker (NT).”
Read a previous article about Södra Skogsägarna: Repeated violations when Södra Skogsägarna carry out logging in Småland’s forests