EMERGENCE OF A BIODIVERSITY CONCEPT IN SWEDISH FOREST POLICY

Sweden's forest policy was fundamentally changed in 1993. Timber produ ction and maintenance of biodiversity then became objectives of equal dignity. In the past, timber production had been the single primary ai m of Swedish forest policy. The strategy established for maintaining b iodiversity is based on a system of forest reserves and management of the matrix that mimics natural processes and builds in natural structu res at the stand and, when applicable, the landscape level. One reason for not basing the strategy on reserves only is that almost ail Swedi sh forests have been intensively managed and, as a consequence, there is a shortage of areas suitable for reserves. The new forest policy pr esupposes a consensus in the forestry sector of the importance of main taining biodiversity. Training and information are as important as leg islation. Maintenance of biodiversity is not an operative goal. This m akes it difficult to predict the outcome of the policy and, consequent ly, there is a need for monitoring routines to enable changes to polic y implementation. Such routines have yet to be developed.