Forest

Sweden faces an uphill struggle to meet EU climate targets for its forests by 2030.

They are the most valuable ecosystems for the country’s biodiversity, home to hundreds of endemic species. However, over the past century, two thirds of the area has been lost.

Almost 70 percent of Sweden's land area is covered by forests. In this article, the writer explores the significance of these forests for people, communities, and biodiversity as well as highlighting how they are utilised and managed today.

The environmental movement often hails old-growth forests as saviours of the climate, whereas the forestry industry argues that it is young, growing forests that soak up carbon dioxide. We followed along as the exhalations of an old forest were measured – using steel cages and gas masks.

The protection of forests did not figure high on the UN climate convention’s COP28 agenda last December and it really seems negotiators are waiting for Brazil’s COP30 in 2025.

Russia has one fifth of the global forest area. This area has remained relatively constant in recent decades, but clear cutting and wildfires are altering the species composition.

The fate of the vast boreal forest belt of the northern hemisphere is crucial for global climate. A new AirClim-report looks into our possibilities to protect and manage these forests for climate mitigation. Reducing paper consumption turns out to be an option.