Sweden

Sweden is the 3rd largest country in the EU, with a terrestrial area of close to 450,000km² and a marine area over 155,000km². Occupying the eastern part of the Scandinavian peninsula, it has a long coastline, the border with Norway is mountainous, and has a number of large lakes. It is bordered by 2 other countries. The highest point is Kebnekaise at 2,104m. Sweden has a population of 10.4 million people and a population density of 25 people per km².

of land covered

by protected areas

of marine waters covered

by protected areas

species protected

under EU law

habitats protected

under EU law

Protected areas in Sweden cover a total of km² on land and km² at sea.

Percentage of area covered by protected areas

Currently, of Sweden's terrestrial area is designated as protected areas, which is below the EU value of 26.4%. The EU Biodiversity Strategy has set a target of reaching 30% protected area coverage at the EU level by 2030. With a coverage of in its marine waters, Sweden surpasses the EU value of 12.1%.

Number of protected areas

With a total of protected areas, Sweden has the highest number of sites in the EU, largely due to the high number ( ) of nationally designated areas. Sweden 's network also includes Natura 2000 sites. These Natura 2000 sites are designated under the Birds Directive, encompassing Special Protection Areas, and the Habitats Directive, encompassing Sites of Community Importance. Many sites are designated under both Directives

Number of protected areas

Protected areas designated

under national laws

Designated sites

in the Natura 2000 network

Distribution of protected areas between national designations and Natura 2000

In Sweden, the majority of the terrestrial protected areas are designated both as Natura 2000 sites and under national laws. is covered solely by nationally designated areas. The marine protected areas network in Sweden largely consists of Natura 2000 sites overlapping with nationally designated sites, with a small portion of the network covered solely by nationally designated areas.

Spatial distribution of protected areas network

Protected areas designated under national laws

Designated sites in the Natura 2000 network

Size distribution of protected areas network

The majority of terrestrial protected areas in Sweden (85%) are smaller than 1km², which represents a higher proportion of small protected areas than on average in the EU. 12% of terrestrial sites are 1-10km² and further 2% 10-100km². The majority of marine protected areas in Sweden are also smaller than 1km².

Natura 2000 sites

Natura 2000 sites in Sweden cover species and habitats from the nature directives. The number of species and habitats protected in each site varies depending on the location of the site, the biodiversity in the region, the designation being used, and the features the site is being created to protect.

Species protected in Sweden under EU law fall under the Habitats and Birds Directives. Sweden hosts protected under the Habitats Directive, which is approximately 12% of the total of the Habitats Directive’s species and protected birds, which is approximately 58% of the species protected under the Birds Directive.

species protected under EU law

species under the Habitats Directive

species under the Birds Directive

Conservation Status of species: Habitats Directive

In Sweden, of species assessments indicate a good conservation status, considerably above the EU average corresponding to 27.5%. The proportion of assessments indicating bad conservation status is reaching , compared to the EU average of 20.6%.

Protected species composition by taxonomic group

In Sweden, the distribution of protected species across taxonomic groups highlights the prominence of birds, comprising the largest proportion at 61.9%. They are followed by vascular plants, accounting for 10.1% of protected species, and mammals, representing 8%.

Conservation Status by Taxa

In Sweden, the assessment of species groups reveals that vascular plants have the highest proportion of species with a good conservation status, standing at 62.3%. Following closely behind are mammals, with 59.7% and non-vascular plants with 48.5% of species in good conservation status. On the other hand, reptiles exhibit the highest percentage of species with a bad conservation status, reaching 100%; arthropods also have a significant proportion of species in bad conservation status at 64%.

Habitats protected in Sweden under EU law fall under the Habitats Directive. Sweden hosts habitat types, which is approximately 38.2% of the total of habitat types protected by the Habitats Directive.

habitats protected under EU law in Sweden

Conservation status of habitats

In Sweden, 22.6% of habitats assessments indicate a good conservation status which is above the EU average of 14.7%. On the other hand, the proportion of assessments indicating a bad conservation status, amounting to 54.3%, is surpassing the EU average of 35.8%.

Protected habitat composition by group

In Sweden, the group of protected habitats with the largest number consists of coastal and salt-tolerant habitats, encompassing 19.1% of the total. Following behind are forests, with 17.9% and bogs, mires and fens with 12.3% of the protected habitats.

Conservation status by group

In Sweden, the assessment of habitat groups reveals that rocky habitats have the highest proportion of good conservation status, standing at 63.1%. Following behind are heath and scrub, with 50% of habitat types in good conservation status. On the other hand, sclerophyllous scrub exhibit the highest percentage of habitat types with a bad conservation status, reaching 100%; dune habitats also have a significant proportion of habitat types in bad conservation status at 88.8%, and grasslands at 81.2%.

Sweden is predominantly characterised by forest ecosystems covering 67.7% of the country. However, Sweden has relatively smaller proportions of agroecosystems (9.3%), rivers and lakes (8.6%), heathland ecosystems (7.7%), wetlands (5.4%), and urban areas (1.5%).

In terms of the protected area network, forests constitute the largest portion, covering 56% of the protected areas. Agroecosystems make up 32% of the protected areas, reflecting the importance of conserving and managing agricultural landscapes for biodiversity. Urban areas account for 4.8% of the protected areas, emphasizing the significance of protecting nature within urban environments. Heathlands contribute to 3.3% of the protected areas, while rivers and lakes represent 2.1%, and wetlands comprise 1.8%.