The Swedish Forest Agency works to promote sustainable forest management in Sweden. Its responsibilities include enforcing forestry laws, providing information to forest owners, developing policy, and conducting forest inventories. The agency has about 1,000 employees working across regional and district offices. Its mission is guided by the Swedish parliament and government to sustainably utilize Swedish forests. The agency also works internationally by collaborating with other organizations and participating in processes like the UN's 2030 Agenda. Several of the Agenda's goals and targets are directly relevant to the agency's work, such as those addressing climate change, life on land, responsible consumption, and developing effective institutions.

1. The role of the Swedish Forest Agency
in light of the 2030 Agenda
Herman Sundqvist
Skogens pärlor

2. The forest sector in a nutshell

3. Forests and Forestry in Sweden
Population 9.9 million
Land area 41 million hectares
68% forest cover
10% of export income
Contribution to GDP, 2.2 %
Employment for 60 000 (200 000)

4. Swedish Forest Agency
• Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation
• Headquarters in Jönköping
• Exceptionally decentralised
field organisation
• 3 regions
•24 districts ( ~100 offices)
• <1 000 employees

5. • Law surveillance including supervision of the
Forestry Act
• Promote sustainable forest management by
providing information
• Analysis and policy development
• GIS tool development
• Contractual services to forest owners
• Forest inventories and surveys
• State subsidies
The Swedish Forest Agency
Working methods

6. Policy and guiding documents
• Two equal goals in the Forestry Act – high valuable forest production
and preservation of environmental values.
• Our mission is to work for a sustainable utilisation of the Swedish
forests according to the guidelines given by the Parliament and the
Government.
• Our instruction states that – The agency should within our area of
activities and together with other actors contribute to the
implementation of the Policy for Global Development (PGU).

7. International engagements
• Networks & clusters (National and International)
• Agreements with sister organizations (“Memorandum of Understanding”)
• Development cooperation
• International processes
• International reporting

8. Forestry and linkages with Agenda 2030

9. 1 No Poverty
Goal: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Thorsten Celander, Forest Initiative
Target 1.4
By 2030, ensure that all men and
women , in particular the poor and
the vulnerable have equal rights
to economic resources as well as
access to basic services ,
ownership and control over
land and other forms of
property, inheritance, natural
resources , appropriate new
technology and financial
services, including microfinance

10. 2 No Hunger
Goal: End hunger, achieve food security and
improved nutrition and promote sustainable
agriculture Target 2.3
By 2030, double the agricultural
productivity and incomes of small
scale producers, in particular
women, indigenous peoples,
family farmers, pastoralists and
fishers, including through secure
and equal access to land, other
productive resources and
inputs, knowledge, financial
services, markets and
opportunities for value addition
and non farm employment

11. 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
Goal: Ensure access to affordable, reliable,
sustainable and modern energy for all
Target 7.2
By 2030, increase substantially
the share of renewable energy in
the global energy mix

12. 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal: Ensure sustainable consumption and
production patterns
Target 12.2
By 2030 achieve the sustainable
management and efficient use of
natural resources

13. Thorsten Celander, Forest Initiative
Target 13.1 Strengthen resilience
and adaptive capacity to climate
related hazards and natural
disasters in all countries
13 Climate Action
Goal: Take urgent action to combat climate change and
its impacts

14. 15 Life on Land
Goal: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and
halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Target 15.2
By 2020 promote the
implementation of sustainable
management of all types of
forests, halt deforestation, restore
degraded forests and
substantially increase
afforestation and reforestation
globally

15. Gunilla Lidén, Forest Initiative
Target 16.6
Develop effective, accountable
and transparent institutions at all
levels
16 Peace, Justice and strong Institutions
Goal: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable
development, provide access to justice for all and build effective,
accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels