Response to interpellation 2023/24:168 on the size of the moose population and the impact of forest policy
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
KD considers that there should be room for a viable moose population of high quality while at the same time the damages to forestry must be manageable 1. KD considers that the total wildlife pressure and the availability of food must be included in the calculation when analyzing damages to forests 1. KD considers that improved site adaptation within forestry contributes to increased amounts of feed and an improved balance between the size of the ungulate populations and the availability of feed 1. KD considers that Naturvårdsverket and Skogsstyrelsen have been tasked to report on measures and propose regulatory changes to reduce the damage levels on forests 1.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Mr. Speaker! Elin Söderberg has asked me whether I consider that the moose population should be further reduced and, if not, what measures I and the government intend to take. Elin Söderberg has further asked whether I consider that measures should be taken within forest policy to strengthen the moose population.
I believe that there must be room for a vital moose population of high quality, while at the same time the damages to forestry must be manageable. The total wildlife pressure must be included in the calculation, as well as the availability of food, when analyzing damages to forests.
In the longer term, improved site adaptation within forestry also contributes to increased amounts of fodder in the forest and thus to an improved balance between the size of the moose's food stems and the availability of fodder. Pleasantly enough, we have seen positive results here during recent years, not least an increased proportion of pine regenerations in southern Sweden. The Swedish Forest Agency's collaboration project Mera tall, which has the goal of increasing interest among forest owners for pine regeneration on lands where pine is most suitable, has contributed to the positive trend.
Naturvårdsverket and Skogsstyrelsen have been tasked with reporting on possible measures and, if necessary, proposing regulatory changes to achieve the desired balance between ungulate populations and forage availability and thereby reduce the level of damage to forests. The assignment was reported on October 17 this year. In their report, the authorities propose a long series of measures aimed at wildlife management and forestry respectively. Among others, it is proposed that Skogsstyrelsen's collaboration project Mera tall, called Samverkan skog och vilt in northern Sweden, should be intensified.
The proposals are now being prepared further in the Government Offices.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.