The Church of Sweden has rejected key recommendations from a major forestry investigation. Instead, the Church Assembly voted to follow the more limited proposal from the Church Board. This decision affects how the church manages its extensive forest lands across Sweden.
The investigation began in spring 2023 to examine sustainability in church forestry practices. Investigator Göran Enander presented his findings this autumn. His report contained several ambitious proposals for reforming church forestry policies.
Enander recommended the church adopt indigenous rights principles throughout its forestry operations. This included protecting one-fifth of forest areas for biodiversity and carbon storage. Another third would transition to nature-close forestry methods.
The proposed changes would have cost the church approximately 100 million kronor annually in reduced revenue. This financial impact likely influenced the final decision.
A central recommendation involved implementing FPIC principles. FPIC means Free, Prior and Informed Consent. It gives indigenous peoples and local communities the right to receive advance information. They can then freely consent to or reject decisions affecting their lands, lives, or culture.
The Church Board's alternative proposal also includes FPIC but with significant limitations. It restricts FPIC application to situations with direct and substantial impact. This narrower approach received the assembly's approval.
The Swedish Sami Association appealed to church politicians before the vote. They urged adoption of the investigator's original proposal. Their request went unheeded despite their advocacy efforts.
Matti Blind Berg, the association chairman, expressed disappointment with the outcome. He stated that reconciliation with the Sami people cannot build on watered-down compromises. Berg emphasized that true reconciliation requires concrete action, justice, and courage.
This decision comes amid growing international attention to indigenous rights in Scandinavia. The Church of Sweden owns substantial forest lands across northern Sweden. These areas overlap with traditional Sami reindeer herding territories.
The church's forestry practices have drawn scrutiny in recent years. Environmental groups and indigenous rights organizations have pushed for more sustainable management. They argue that religious institutions should lead by example in environmental stewardship.
The financial considerations clearly weighed heavily in the assembly's deliberations. Losing 100 million kronor annually represents substantial revenue reduction for church operations. This financial reality likely made the more modest Church Board proposal more appealing to decision-makers.
What does this mean for future church-Sami relations? The rejection of stronger protections suggests institutional caution about financial impacts. It also indicates potential tension between environmental ideals and economic practicalities within the church hierarchy.
The decision may have broader implications for other Swedish landowners. Many private and public forest owners watch church decisions as potential precedents. This outcome could slow adoption of stronger indigenous rights protections elsewhere.
Church officials now face the challenge of implementing the approved policy framework. They must balance financial sustainability with their stated commitment to environmental and indigenous concerns. How they navigate this balance will be closely watched by all stakeholders.