Estimates of the needs for forest reserves in Sweden

We estimated the need for nature reserves to maintain forest biodiversity i n Sweden. Using habitat-loss thresholds for long-term survival of resident vertebrate "umbrella" species, and differences in forest disturbance regime s, we estimated the long-term protection in four biogeographic regions. No reserve need was assumed for forest environments that can be emulated by no rmal management. The estimates of the long-term need of reserves ranged fro m 9% (northern Sweden) to 16% southernmost Sweden) and was divided into: (1 ) existing protected forests (1.6-0.6%): (2) estimated benefits for biodive rsity of special forest management (0.7-0%): (3) existing unprotected fores ts with high conservation value (3.5-1.9%). The remaining areas required to satisfy the long-term reserve goal were cultural landscape habitats (0-2.2 %), as well as land for habitat restoration and re-creation (3-11%). Our an alysis suggests that it is urgent to maintain all remnants of natural fores ts and cultural landscape habitats, but that forest protection alone is ins ufficient to maintain forest biodiversity.