Forestry regulations trigger large forest divestment in Sweden

Sweden’s largest private forest owner, Roger Akelius, has announced plans to sell part of his forest assets, citing what he describes as excessive regulatory oversight and legal uncertainty in Swedish forestry. Speaking to the Swedish magazine ATL, Akelius said he is no longer willing to operate under a system where forestry decisions can be repeatedly delayed or overturned through appeals by third parties. Akelius’s criticism focuses on the scope given to environmental organisations to challenge forestry operations, as well as Sweden’s strict application of species protection rules derived from EU legislation. In his view, these mechanisms ...