Although fifty per cent of its woodlands are privately owned, a law enacted in 1903 protects forests from over harvesting and ensures that they are replanted. As a result, Sweden's forests have twice the wood they did 100 years ago. Everything they do is long term, like their highways, bridges and buildings. This philosophy is also used in forest management which is evident in the quality of timber stands throughout the country. Despite these efforts, an emphasis on harvesting Norway Spruce and Scot Pine has resulted in a lack of diversity in the types of trees being grown.
Many species have since become extinct or endangered.
To combat this situation, Ross says the Swedish government legislated new laws in 1994 which attach equal importance to production and environmental concerns. He describes forestry management between Canada and Sweden as quite similar, with some differences. For example, Canadian forests have more varieties of trees and environmentally sensitive areas are left protected with dead trees and underbrush. The Swedes, on the other hand, have recently adopted the method of leaving some waste wood behind rather than leaving the forest floor bare after clear cutting. But like every industry, practices change in response to the results.