Small orchid symbol of red-green conflict - forest policy divides

The small forest orchid kneeroot has become a controversial symbol in Swedish forest policy. In several cases, it has caused the Norwegian Forestry Agency and the courts to stop planned fellings.

Is it reasonable to stop harvesting for such a small plant?

- Is it reasonable to continue with a forestry that kills our nature?, says Emil V Nilsson from Naturpodden to SVT's Agenda.

Differences between MP and C

The conflict between species protection and ownership goes straight into the red-green government negotiations, where the Center Party and the Green Party have opposing views.

The Center Party wants to protect the forest owners' right to use their forest, while the Green Party wants to strengthen protection for endangered species and limit felling.

The industry organization Skogsindustrierna emphasizes how important the forest is for Sweden's exports and that the forest industry is an important employer. They see the fact that more felling decisions are appealed and stopped as worrying.

- This hits the landowners who practice forestry very hard, and leads to uncertainty about how they can farm their land, says Skogsindustrierns CEO Viveka Beckeman.

Interest organizations follow the development

Both the Forest Industries and the environmental movement follow the red-green talks about government power with great interest.

- Over 80 percent of the Swedish parliament is in favor of active forestry, says Viveka Beckeman.

Emil V Nilsson hopes that the Green Party's line will have an impact.

- When it comes to the forest, I don't understand why a party like C, which says it wants to take responsibility for the climate, doesn't want to protect the forest, he says.