Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Sweden’s intact forest ecosystems and biodiversity are today threatened by intensive forestry and fragmentation of the landscape. The forest landscape requires more protected areas for Sweden to reach ratified international and national targets. An important tool in reaching the targets is to protect more forests and maintain existing high conservation value areas. Two tools for protecting forests are biotope protection areas and nature conservation agreements, which includes smaller forest areas, usually 3-6 hectares, on privately owned forestland, both with economic compensation, the former imperative and the latter voluntary. These small, protected areas complements larger areas such as nature reserves and therefore contributes to a higher representativeness. The study area Jämtland is a county rich in forests and especially valuable habitats such as coniferous calcareous forests. In this study we analyzed how biotope protection areas and nature conservation agreements is distributed within the county and what kind of nature conservation practices are used. A particular focus is placed on the coniferous calcareous forests. The results show that most protected areas are left for free development and that most of the managed areas has a goal of reducing spruce and increase other tree species. The coniferous calcareous forests differed in management action due to a larger proportion of forest pasture. There is a large interest among forest owners for nature conservation agreements and biotope protection areas, but few resources at the Forest Agency limits the number of protected areas and type of nature conservation practices. More of, or a redistribution of existing funds, is crucial to be able to respond to forest owners’ ambitions and to reach ratified targets. We suggest that more knowledge of the effects of the management methods on biological diversity and functional ecosystems are needed and how they are best implemented to plan and prioritize actions more easily. Furthermore, we believe it should be investigated if it is more effective to protect more forest or manage existing protected areas when resources are scarce.