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 Eight Swedes out of ten say that access to the forest is important for their quality of life. Three out of four say that they spend time there at least once every week, mainly for walking and taking exercise in open land and forests close to agglomerations.
In connection with its centenary the Swedish National Board of Forestry has presented the result of an extensive study of the opinion of various instances concerning the forest and its future. Interviews have been made with representatives of all interested parties; industry, forest owners, public authorities, ideological organizations and the public at large.
The study brings out two very contrary views about the forest; on the one hand it is seen primarily as raw material for industry and on the other hand there is the view that the forest shall be a source of health, nature experiences and recreation.
Commercial operators, for example forest companies and processing industry, primarily see the forest as a source of raw material. On the other hand, nature conservation organizations, municipalities, county boards and most of the public at large consider that the forest shall primarily be a natural resource and a source of nature experiences. Present forest owners are in the middle, somewhere halfway between these extreme views.
The National Board of Forestry’s study indicates that modern urbanized people have limited understanding for the importance of the forest as a source of livelihood. On the other hand, commercial operators consider the requirements and values of the public at large in respect of the forest to be less important. For example, only one third of commercial operators consider it important to take more account of nature conservation in forestry.
There is a risk that the divergence of views how forest resources are to be used will increase under the pressure of globalisation and stiffer competition on the one hand and increasing urbanisation on the other hand. This situation is particularly problematic in forests close to agglomerations where recreational values have increased to such an extent that they must be given priority above industrial production, says Mr Göran Enander, Director General of the National Board of Forestry.
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