SV0068, Forest policy in Sweden, 7.5 Hp
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Syllabus

Finalized by: Ordföranden för programnämnden för utbildning inom skog (PN-S), 2024-12-20
Valid from : Spring semester 2026 (2026-01-19)

Level

First cycle (G1F)

Main field of study

Forestry Science

Grading Scale

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Course language

Swedish

Entry Requirements

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to provide knowledge and skills in analyzing and discussing legal and economic instruments for the sustainable management of forests, as well as to offer foundational knowledge in law and policy, with a particular focus on the interactions between society and ecosystems—especially forests. Additionally, the course aims to give an overview of how international forest policy impacts Swedish conditions for sustainable forestry.

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

- Describe the history of Swedish forest policy

- Describe and discuss the formation of Swedish forest policy and the relationships between forest policy and other related policy areas (e.g., environmental, energy, and climate policy), and apply these to forestry issues from social, economic, and environmental perspectives

- Apply Swedish forest legislation and other related legislation (e.g., environmental, energy, and climate legislation) to forestry issues from social, economic, and environmental perspectives

- Discuss the concept of sustainable development and relate it to forest policy in Sweden, the EU, and internationally

- Identify and critically examine stakeholder groups that influence the development of forest policy both nationally and internationally

- Describe and discuss how EU and UN policies impact Swedish forest policy

- Identify and analyze structures and processes (such as certification systems) that influence Swedish forest policy actors

- Orally present and argue about current issues in forest policy and forest legislation.

Content

This course provides a foundation for analyzing how various actors, stakeholders, and societal processes influence forest management from a sustainability perspective and how different measures and strategies are developed for the forest landscape. Through lectures and seminars, students are introduced to forest-related policy and law, along with related policy areas such as environmental, energy, and climate policy, with a particular emphasis on the interactions between these areas. The course offers an overview of how the UN and EU influence Swedish forest policy. Based on the three pillars of sustainable development—ecology, economy, and environment—students deepen their analyses of the need for political and economic governance, including the efficiency aspects of different political and legal instruments, as well as trade-offs between forest objectives and multifunctional forest use. The course also includes general legal knowledge and legal methods, with an overview of the legal sources used to solve legal problems. Voluntary processes (such as certification) are also analyzed and discussed within the course.

Through workshops, case studies, and field trips/guest lectures, students deepen their understanding of forest multifunctionality and the roles of different actors in forestry, while developing their ability to identify and analyze the impact of various structures on individual forest owners. This includes the opportunities and constraints presented by Swedish forest policy and EU and UN policies regarding legislation, strategies, and recommendations. Workshops and seminars also contribute to developing students' skills in presenting and arguing about current issues.

Obligatory:

• Guest lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

Approved exam Approved assignments Approved participation in compulsory components.

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of forest bioeconomy and technology

Supplementary information

Included in program

• Forest Science (BSc)

Module set

Title	Credits	Code
Policy (examination)	2.5	0001
Law (examination)	2.5	0002
Seminars and compulsory sessions	2.5	0003

Other Information

SLU is environmentally certified according to ISO 14001. Many of our courses address knowledge and skills that contribute positively to the environment. To further strengthen this, we have specific environmental goals for education. Students are welcome to suggest measures in the course design and implementation that lead to environmental improvements. For more information, see SLU’s website, www.slu.se. SLU is also a PRME-certified university, Principles for Responsible Management Education (http://www.unprme.org/).