The Swedish Forest Agency has submitted a budget request to the government, seeking an additional 100 million SEK in 2026 to boost sustainable forest growth, accelerate digitalization, and strengthen the management of protected forests. Without these funds, efforts toward a fossil-free society and the preservation of high conservation values could be significantly hindered, according to the agency’s budget proposal for 2026–2028.

The requested funds are divided into three key areas. Sustainable growth initiatives require 30 million SEK to support advisory programs for forest owners, helping them increase production within a climate-adapted forestry framework. Digitalization improvements, totaling 50 million SEK, aim to enhance public data infrastructure and conduct laser scanning of Sweden’s forests. Additionally, 20 million SEK is needed for the maintenance of 8,200 protected areas, covering approximately 42,000 hectares, many of which require urgent conservation measures.

The agency received temporary funding for 2025 to handle increased international obligations and regulatory developments. It now suggests that these allocations may need to become permanent to meet ongoing challenges.

The budget proposal outlines a stepwise increase in funding: 100 million SEK in 2026, 165 million SEK in 2027, and 240 million SEK in 2028. The total requested funding for these initiatives is 505 million SEK over three years, as detailed in the Swedish Forest Agency’s official budget document submitted to the government.