Sweden – Wildlife and Biodiversity

One BBC writer dubbed Sweden as the most underrated wildlife destination and pointed to its vast forests and lakes thriving with a variety of species including 2,500 European brown bears, more than 200,000 beavers, 250,000 moose and 200 wolves. Did you know that a wolf’s howl can be heard from up to 10kms away? Among this are some other incredible species like wolverines (unfortunately not of the Hugh Jackman variety), golden and sea eagles, lynxes, arctic foxes, grey seals and many more (including the fabled reindeer). The project offered gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in this pristine wild; tracking and viewing the impressive bear species in their natural habitat. A few of the species mentioned are also considered vulnerable and even thought to be threatened by extinction. Efforts are directed at monitoring and conserving populations of arctic foxes, wolves and sea eagles.

Despite its rank as one of the greenest countries in the world, Sweden is struggling with threats to its biodiversity. The Baltic Sea region has proved particularly vulnerable to climate change and increasing temperatures mean the clearing of ice and increased runoff adds to the leaching out of nutrient salts and humus and leads to discoloured water, increased eutrophication and poor water quality. Further inland disturbances such as insect outbreaks and forest fires can facilitate the invasion of non-native species. Pollution from industry also has its effects in the area.

In other parts, biodiversity is threatened by the expansion of forestry, agriculture and fisheries, disrupting or destroying important habitats. Decreasing wetlands, for example, have contributed to a loss of fish species, like pike. The Government is working together with other countries to preserve valuable biodiversity. It is also advancing the work to protect nature and ensure sustainable forestry, agriculture and fisheries throughout the country (as well as the world). Work to give visibility to the value of ecosystem services and biodiversity continues to have high priority. However, despite government efforts there continues to be many political barriers concerning large carnivores as well as a lack of money to create nature reserves (land, freshwater and marine). Conservation efforts and creating attention around the value (and vulnerability) of biodiversity, continue to be of the utmost importance.