Agroforestry för svenska förhållanden 2024 - Flipbook - Page 53
The reforestation requirement is a key pillar of the
Swedish Forestry Act. In practice, this requirement
makes it impossible both to establish cultivations
larger than 0.5 hectares on forest land and to create
new forest pastures by thinning a forest so that the
animals can graze, as this requires the replanting of
timber-producing trees [31]. The regulations remain
in place despite research that repeatedly demonstrates the central role of forest grazing in preserving biodiversity. [28, 42, 43, 44].
It is important to emphasise that, within the framework of these regulations, it is entirely possible for
forest owners to establish small-scale cultivation
systems in edge zones or clearings on which edible plants are spot-planted. Animal husbandry on
sparse forest land with good fodder vegetation or
in transition zones also works very well. There is
however no concrete financial support for this at the
moment, instead food production has to take place
on its own initiative or through support related to
climate, environment or biodiversity [31].
Hybrids of fast-growing walnut
can be an option in forestry:
there is a high demand for walnut
wood and the market price is high,
often higher than for oak.”
- Jens Peter Skovsgaard, Professor of Forest Management at SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences).
Rydeholms skogsträdgård / Forest garden, Sweden.
