Response to interpellation 2022/23:183 on the protection of and measures for valuable nature
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
L believes that healthy ecosystems are important for the human living environment and that the right of public access (allemansrätten) must be protected. L argues that a strong property right is the basis for preserving the forest's potential and that landowners should receive financial compensation for restrictions. 1 L emphasizes that the government is investing in the protection and management of valuable nature and that reduced resources are due to a previous government making a temporary investment that has reached its end 1. 1 L highlights that the government is implementing a permanent investment of 200 million kronor per year for the rewetting of drained wetlands 1. 2 S believes that the government has low environmental ambitions and that the budget for 2025 involves serious cuts from 23 billion to 9 billion kronor 2 3. 2 S argues that the state must take responsibility for natural resources as the market does not always do so 2. 4 3 S believes that the cuts affect small businesses, local commerce, and lead to jobs disappearing in rural areas 4 3. 5 6 L argues that the government is investing over 2 billion kronor in the protection and management of valuable nature 5 6. 6 L argues that the budget is tight due to inflation and the energy crisis 6. 6 L emphasizes that a temporary investment has reached its end date and that the government is now implementing other investments, such as the rewetting of wetlands 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)
Madam Speaker! She has asked me if I consider the development that the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency describes as a result of reduced appropriations for the protection and management of valuable nature to be desirable, and if I intend to take any measures to counteract negative consequences for biodiversity and outdoor life. She has also asked me if I intend to act in any way within my area of responsibility when approximately 1,000 state-funded seasonal jobs disappear from Sweden's sparsely populated areas and rural regions.
Healthy and vibrant ecosystems are important for the human living environment and provide the conditions for sustainable land use, clean drinking water, and pollination. They also contribute to a more stable climate. Therefore, the work to preserve and protect valuable nature and make it accessible to everyone must continue. We need to safeguard the right of public access.
The EU's biodiversity strategy has pointed out the direction for the union's collective work to preserve biological diversity. I also welcome the new global framework for biodiversity that was decided at COP 15 in Canada, where I personally participated to contribute to the Swedish delegation's work to safeguard biodiversity worldwide.
The framework contains clear global objectives that by 2030 we shall protect 30 percent of areas on land and at sea and also that 30 percent of our damaged ecosystems shall be restored. The decision also means that all countries have committed to realizing and fulfilling set goals and promises. Now we need to sit down and analyze the new global declaration of intent from the COP and see how Sweden can contribute in the wisest way to achieving the goals.
Madam Speaker! The Government considers that a strong ownership and usufruct right is the basis for being able to increasingly realize the forest's potential for our economy, our climate, and our environment. The protection of the ownership right shall be strengthened. A fundamental part of the issue of strengthened ownership right is that landowners shall receive economic compensation for restrictions on ownership and usufruct rights to the extent that they are entitled to it. The Government will, in all respects and contexts, safeguard and work for a sustainable Swedish forestry with care for future generations.
It is also important to care for what we have already protected in order to improve the status of nature types and species and for outdoor life.
Anna-Caren Sätherberg (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for participating here today. But the Minister does not quite answer the questions I have asked her.
She says in her answer that new global targets for biodiversity should be analyzed by the government. But my question is about the budget that the Minister and the right-wing conservative government have presented together with the Sverigedemokraterna, and more specifically about what the substantial cuts that the Minister has decided on mean precisely when it comes to protection and measures for valuable nature.
The Minister also writes that forest owners shall receive financial compensation for restrictions in ownership and usufruct rights to the extent that they are entitled to them. But with the cuts that the right-conservative government has made in this year's budget, it becomes exactly the opposite. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency writes that landowners must now wait for compensation due to precisely those cuts that the Minister has made.
The County Administrative Board in Norrbotten says that landowners in ongoing reserve processes risk having to wait longer for compensation and that it will also become more difficult to establish new nature reserves when there are no funds available to compensate the landowners.
The County Administrative Board in Jämtland says that there is a significantly greater need and interest among private landowners and forestry companies to protect valuable nature than the appropriation allows. Bitte Jonason at the County Administrative Board says: It is simply significantly more landowners who are waiting for valuation and compensation for their forest than we have the possibility to compensate within the new budget framework.
Skåne's 280 nature reserves are hit hard by the government's budget. It is clear how the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is now distributing the funds for nature conservation. In Skåne, the allocation is decreasing from 74 million kronor to 24 million kronor this year. Ingela Lundqvist, who is the nature conservation manager at the County Administrative Board in Skåne, says: If it continues like this for several years, there will be major consequences for nature and species that need a lot of care.
This is what it looks like when you ask some of the authorities what the government's cuts entail. In the previous debate, the government's reluctance regarding the fight against invasive species on state land also emerged. We Social Democrats do not consider this development to be desirable.
The second question, which the Minister also did not answer, concerns the fact that the government's cut means that approximately 1,000 years of work opportunities will disappear. These are years of work opportunities that have largely existed in Sweden's sparsely populated areas and rural regions. These are jobs that have most often been carried out by small companies. It concerns the maintenance of natural areas, nature reserves and national parks, predator surveys and the upgrading of mountain areas, and increasing accessibility.
Many are those who want to go out into our fantastic nature. The number has increased all the time, Minister. Then the maintenance and the infrastructure must really work so that the wear and tear on nature does not become too great.
The first question to the Minister that I would like to have an answer to is whether the Minister intends to take measures or if the Minister considers the development that the government's budget has led to to be desirable.
The Minister also has the opportunity here to answer my second question: Does the Minister intend to act in any way within their area of responsibility when approximately 1,000 important state-funded internship positions, most of which are in Sweden's sparsely populated and rural areas, disappear?
Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (S)
Madam Speaker! One of Sweden's most important industries is the tourism industry. There, small businesses are important, such as those that maintain our national parks. My party colleague just recently accounted for the consequences of the cuts in the environmental budget for outdoor life, the environment, and the jobs, which are alarming.
In Sweden, four out of five jobs are created in small businesses. In the economic situation that Sweden is currently in, it is important that every single job is taken care of. In the Tidö Agreement's directives for climate and energy policy, the government parties argue that an important purpose of the climate and energy policy is to get companies to grow and hire more. This will not be the case for the rural businesses that have taken care of our national parks with the reduced appropriations to the county administrative boards in the environmental budget.
Nature tourism has had steady growth for a long time. The previous government had a tourism strategy and on June 22 presented a compilation of ongoing efforts within various policy areas that contributed to implementing the strategy, a strategy that is now gone from the government's website.
Sweden has a strong position as a sustainable destination, and Tillväxtverket and Visit Sweden have pointed out that it is the Swedish nature that attracts. But for us to have a beautiful nature that contributes to a sustainable outdoor life and sustainable tourism, the small businesses' role at the county administrative boards is important. How will the government ensure that Sweden continues to be a sustainable tourist country that takes advantage of good business ideas and small business owners as the basis for nature tourism?
Madam Speaker! This government has time and again shown that it does not stand on the side of the companies and thus not on the side of the jobs. In addition to the fact that Romina Pourmokhtari's colleagues in the Sverigedemokraterna are casting doubt on the green transition in the north, the companies have not been informed as to when an electricity price subsidy will be in place. Not even an application for this has been sent to the commission. No so-called regulatory simplifications have been implemented, despite the fact that the previous government investigated this issue and the proposals are on the government's table.
And now comes the next blow: Small businesses in the countryside are losing important assignments from the county administrative boards because the government is making significant cuts to the environmental budget.
Madam Speaker! What is the Minister doing about the business situation in the countryside? Has Minister Pourmokhtari conducted a proper impact assessment of what the reduced environmental budget will mean for the business sector and thus for the jobs? Will the Minister let the national parks be without maintenance for four years, or can the county administrative boards and thus the small businesses expect higher appropriations in the coming years?
I reacted to one thing that the Minister said in the previous interpellation debate regarding these times of tight budgets. A tight budget is not a natural phenomenon, Romina Pourmokhtari, but a prioritization. It is quite clear that this government chose to prioritize 13 billion kronor in tax cuts for Sweden's high-income earners instead of, for example, a higher environmental budget.
Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)
Madam Speaker! The Government has a clear ambition that we shall protect our worthy-of-protection forests and not fell them. We shall preserve them through formal protection or through voluntary set-asides. We want to work in different ways to actively counteract species extinction, both globally and in Sweden, through the preservation of particularly sensitive species and natural environments and by promoting sustainable agriculture and a sustainable fishing and forestry industry and in this way continue to create environmental and climate benefits.
We see, in line with the concept of stewardship, Madam Speaker, that active and engaged owners – forest owners, landowners, farmers, fishers – can strengthen ecosystems both in the forest and in other nature and in this way take care of our environment in a wise way.
Madam Speaker! Our environmental policy is based on the concept of stewardship and strives to find cost-effective measures. We see that the environmental issue needs to be an integrated part of other policy areas and sectors, and in line with that, we see that it is in harmony with different actors who utilize our forests and our land that we can carry out this work in the wisest possible way and utilize all the different supports and follow the guidelines that exist to, for example, establish formal protection with voluntariness as the basis.
The state's work to protect our nature shall be carried out with respect for property rights and in dialogue with those concerned. We consider it important that authorities strive to have a good dialogue with, for example, landowners so that the process in protecting our nature shall become as good as possible.
Madam Speaker! The Government is investing heavily in both the protection and management of valuable nature, totaling over 2 billion kronor. Furthermore, the Government is investing just over 1 billion in the marine and aquatic environment. The Government intends to actively counteract species extinction, both globally and in Sweden, by preserving particularly sensitive species and natural environments. It is also important to care for what we have already protected so as not to take one step forward and two steps back, and to improve the status for nature types and for species.
One of the reasons why the resources are decreasing, Madam Speaker, is that the previous government had made a temporary investment that has reached its end date. It is very good that different governments carry out different investments to protect the environment and nature.
This government has, among other things, implemented a permanent investment of 200 million kronor per year for the re-wetting of drained wetlands, a task which I believe most in this chamber who safeguard our nature, our environment, and our climate are well aware has a great effect. It is an area where the appropriation previously, before the government took office, would have been 100 million kronor. Now this government, Madam Speaker, has added 200 million permanently so that for the current year we can allocate 300 million to the re-wetting of drained wetlands and in coming years 200 million.
This is, correctly implemented, a very effective measure to benefit our biodiversity, reduce eutrophication and increase the landscape's resilience. There are many ways to work to protect our nature and our environment.
Regarding the landowners, I must finally mention that it is regrettable that the landowners have to wait, but of course, everyone shall receive the compensation to which they are entitled.
Anna-Caren Sätherberg (S)
Madam Speaker! I naturally agree that the landowners must, of course, receive the compensation they are entitled to. But as the county administrative boards I mentioned, for example those in Norrbotten and Jämtland, and also the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency write, it will take longer, and if one does not know that one will be paid, perhaps the interest will also decrease. I am sure the Minister shares my opinion that one cannot wait too long when one wants to do something good with their protected forest.
I also think the idea of stewardship is very good. But what does the Minister mean then by the state's responsibility? Now, cuts are still being made in a number of areas. In this area alone, there are cuts of 931 million kronor for maintenance and 550 million kronor for protection.
I appreciate that the Minister negotiated for us in Canada. I think the Minister did very well. But it is somewhat symptomatic of this government when the Minister, in his response to me, describes it as the EU's biodiversity strategy and the global goals set at COP that we adhere to, and thus reduces the efforts we have made for the protection of valuable nature. If the EU or the world were not to tell Sweden, we are not there – that is roughly what is being said. Nothing is said about any new measures. It is not said what the Minister thinks about what we are now seeing.
I can take another example. At my home, there is the Arctic fox. The county administrative boards of Jämtland and Norrbotten have worked hard with that. And in 2022, we saw the return of the Arctic fox. Those county administrative boards now describe that, when one goes down to a halving, they do not know how it will go for the Arctic fox. The Arctic fox is just one of the species that the state is now taking its hand away from.
The idea of stewardship is fine, just as we think about future generations. Environmental and climate policy cannot, in fact, be quarterly politics. That is how I perceive the government's budget. You are reducing from 23 billion this year to 9 billion in 2025. Where is the idea of stewardship in that? How is that supposed to look? For me, it doesn't add up.
The state has a responsibility. At least that is what we Social Democrats think. We know that the state must take it. The market, in fact, does not always take the fine responsibility for the management of our natural resources and for ensuring that we have the biodiversity that we should have. This is done through rules and by ensuring that funds follow those rules. That is what I think is missing.
I still wonder if I can expect to receive answers from the Minister for Climate and Environment regarding my two questions, which I also posed in the interpellation.
Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (S)
Mr. Speaker! I want it noted first that I did not receive an answer. We Social Democrats are trying to get an answer on when the government will submit the state aid notification to the commission for the companies. Romina Pourmokhtari has a chance to answer.
It is obvious that the government has low environmental and climate ambitions. 1.5 billion kronor are disappearing from the work with the protection and maintenance of valuable nature. Due to the government's lack of environmental policy, small businesses are suffering. The government has also not analyzed the consequences for local businesses of these cuts. Worried business owners are met with few answers, and the government tries to disclaim responsibility for this serious situation.
Beautiful nature combined with good business ideas and skilled small business owners have contributed to making Sweden a sustainable tourist destination. The government is cutting back on tourism promotion efforts and now also on the maintenance of our beautiful nature. Every year, thousands of people visit our national parks. Our nature attracts, Romina Pourmokhtari.
I note that the government and the Council of State do not have answers as to what they intend to do to strengthen businesses in rural areas. I also note that the government does not seem particularly concerned about the jobs that are disappearing as a direct consequence of the cuts.
I repeat: Will the government act so that the maintenance of our national parks will be strengthened and thereby support small businesses and save jobs? It is, after all, a matter of priorities, Romina Pourmokhtari.
Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)
Mr. Speaker! I would like to thank member Velasquez Castro, who pronounces my name so well.
There is a great deal to report on in this area. Let me point out once again that this government is investing in the protection and management of valuable nature. A total of over 2 billion kronor is not a small sum. In addition to that, we are also investing just over 1 billion in the marine and water environment. It is considerable and important in these times.
We want to counter species extinction both globally and in Sweden. Therefore, it is important to also mention the global perspective and the agreements we find in the UN through the government's work and through Sweden's representation in international contexts. In that forum, we can contribute to the work worldwide and not only safeguard the work that needs to be done in Sweden.
But in addition to the EU's various regulations and the UN-bound goals, we naturally have a task at the national level. There, we aim high and have high environmental goals and laws that contribute to us being able to protect our nature and environment in the best possible way. It is something the government is keen to promote.
Mr. Speaker! We also have a task that specifically concerns people's access to protected areas and the maintenance of facilities, such as signage, hiking trails, viewpoints, barbecue areas, etc. Despite the fact that we previously had the LONA grant and a specific task with this, the government can state that Naturvårdsverket has a clear mandate regarding developing the work with, for example, the country's hiking trails and mountain areas and that this work continues. The six-year investment in measures for hiking trails and mountain areas remains. This means that 50 million per year until 2027 will go to this important work, which contributes.
Mr. Speaker! The Government assesses that the upgrading of our state-run trail systems in the mountains has contributed to more people being able to hike in the mountains, to increased mountain safety, and to regional growth, which we are also keen to safeguard.
Mr. Speaker! There are many measures that can be taken in this area. I spoke earlier about one of the measures that the government has prioritized: the initiative to rewet and restore drained wetlands. It is an important initiative, precisely because of its manifold environmental benefits.
In addition, an environmental goals preparation is tasked with proposing a strategy for interim targets, steering instruments, and measures that contribute to us achieving Sweden's commitments within the EU and internationally for nature conservation and biodiversity. It shall also review uptake and emissions of greenhouse gases within the land use sector, which will become an important part of the work. It shall also map and describe synergies in the work to achieve our commitments. I look forward to the results of that work.
There are also a number of assignments ongoing regarding forests, for example, agreements between Naturvårdsverket and Sveaskog that contribute to safeguarding our valuable mountain forests. There is therefore a lot of work that continues and is ongoing, which the government wants to safeguard.
When it comes to the Arctic fox specifically, I must refer to the responsible minister, who is Kullgren.
Anna-Caren Sätherberg (S)
Mr. Speaker! Minister! I asked two questions. I have not received an answer to either of them. I and everyone listening to the debate must simply assume that the development that the government's budget entails, with the cuts that we have described here today, is desirable according to the Minister. That was the question. I also assume that the Minister will not act regarding the thousand important annual job opportunities that are now disappearing in Sweden's sparse areas and rural regions. It will also be as it was. We have heard nothing else.
Despite the talk about environmental goal preparations, we see what the budget looks like until 2025. This budget goes from 23 billion in 2022 to 9 billion in 2025, according to the government's proposal for the 2025 budget.
It is fine to talk about the idea of stewardship, about the fact that future generations should also have a richness of species and about biological diversity. I agree with what the Minister of State says about the fact that it should not only be done in Sweden but in the whole world. But here in Sweden, we at least have a clear instrument. It is the budget that we decide on. In the government's budget, there are large reductions in that area. Then I do not think one can talk about the idea of stewardship if one does not take that responsibility.
We have also heard the Minister's answer to my two questions, which was nothing. I consider that the Minister is thus saying that the direction that the budget implies for environmental protection and measures for nature is desirable.
Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)
Mr. Speaker! Let me once again point out what I said in the answer, namely that this government is investing a lot in the protection and management of valuable nature, totaling over 2 billion kronor.
The budget is tight. We face a situation with inflation at historically high levels, an energy crisis and war in Europe, and therefore the government has presented a tight budget.
Naturvårdsverket and the county administrative boards are working as quickly as possible with the existing resources, but the fact that resources are decreasing in the area concerning specifically the protection and management of valuable nature is due to the government's temporary initiative having reached its end date. It is a very important initiative, which I am sure has contributed in a wise way.
We are now carrying out further investments in other areas, for example a permanent investment for drained wetlands. It is an important work that contributes to a good natural environment and also functions as a carbon sink for the emissions that we are keen to counteract.
We have a situation that affects how much we can finance the activities that we want the state to perform. We must therefore utilize the resources we have in a wise manner and, in dialogue with parties, whether they are county administrative boards, authorities or landowners, find ways to work to safeguard and care for the nature types and species that may be affected when we do not have the same large-scale investments.
I look forward to the work that the Environmental Goals Commission will present, even if it does not sound as exciting. I look forward to taking on the basis that is then given to me when it comes to developing the work for Sweden on the environmental front.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.