Holmen’s Knowledge forests are large areas of forest with high conservation value that we are opening up to gather and share knowledge about forestry, biodiversity and growth.
Woodpecker
Biodiversity
Biodiversity means a landscape with many habitat types, a wide range of species and great genetic variation within species. Safeguarding global biodiversity is a critical dimension of sustainable development, and one that is closely related to how our forests are managed.
Why is biodiversity important?
Biodiversity is defined as the variety among living organisms of all origins - diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. A varied forest environment with deciduous trees, watercourses and a wide range of animal species is vital to functioning ecosystems and thriving forests.
Holmen’s forest strategy focuses on achieving high and profitable growth while also ensuring that all naturally occurring species can thrive in the Swedish forest landscape.
Of Holmen’s just over 1 million hectares of forested land, we use about 80 per cent for wood production and we always take far-reaching environmental conservation into account when managing and harvesting our forest.
Development has been rapid and we have learned a great deal about how we can foster healthy ecosystems while increasing forest growth.
We are convinced that it is through research and collaboration that we can continue to find new ways to promote both growth and biodiversity in our forests.
Each year, Holmen invests SEK 170 million in caring for our forests and constantly work to improve everything from seedlings to nature conservation through research, development and education – all to ensure good growth and healthy ecosystems for future generations.
Holmen conducts about a hundred research projects on our land, both on our own and in collaboration with research organizations, universities and other stakeholders. In our Sustainability Report, you will find more information about how we work to promote biodiversity:
Good conditions for biodiversity in the Nordics
Safeguarding global biodiversity is a critical dimension of sustainable development, and one that is closely related to how our forests are managed. Although the challenges are often local in nature, there is value in observing developments at an aggregate level. The natural variety of biotopes and species within a given area makes this a complex challenge.
The Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) models the human impact on the natural environment and estimates the proportion of the original number of species and habitats that remain. If BII is 90 or higher, the area is considered to have good conditions for biological diversity.
The Red List is an important tool for biodiversity
In order to preserve the biological diversity in the forest, Swedish forestry closely monitors the development of species through the Swedish Red List. Red listing is a way of mapping and assessing the condition and status of plant and animal species, the risk they run of weakening or extinction, and what measures are needed to improve their situation.
The red list is continuously updated. Every five years, a summary is made of the development of individual species in Sweden.
Holmen shares the Swedish Forest Industries Foundation’s position that the red list is an important tool, but that interpretation, environmental goal follow-up, data on protected areas and habitat type reporting must be nuanced and improved.
Positive development for biodiversity in the forest
Recent research from SLU and the Swedish Forest Industries describes the state of biodiversity in the Swedish forest. The results show that the conditions for diversity in the forest have improved in recent decades. There are both positive and negative trends, but the overall trend is that development is going in the right direction. The good results motivate the members of the Swedish Forest Industries to agree on new goals for biodiversity. By 2030, the area of old forest, the area of deciduous forest, the volume of dead wood and the timber stock of coarse trees will increase by at least another 10 percent each.
Our nature conservation initiatives aim to benefit everything from plants and birds to insects and fungi. The photo shows a dog lichen of the genus Peltigera and family Peltigeraceae.