SLIMF rules in Sweden

The purpose is to ease the access of smallholders to the FSC system by adapting rules to accomodate the special conditions of smallscale forestry. The indicators will apply to operations below 1,000 hectares as well as operations harvesting less than 20% of the annual increment. In addition, operations whose income rely exclusively on products other than timber, pulpwood, or woodchips, will be covered. The indicators will be developed in a comprehensive stakeholder consultation process, clarifying the key challenges and issues for smallholders in Sweden.

Earlier this year, Swedish forestry group Sveaskog announced that it will pay a premium price of 25 SEK pr m3 for FSC-certified raw wood. This offer was made with the specific purpose of creating an incentive for smallholders to enter the FSC scheme, in order to increase the total volume of FSC-certified wood on the market. Sveaskog also offers to manage FSC group certificates for forest owners, which reduces the administrative burden of certification.

Small-scale forestry is an important potential source of certified wood supply in Europe as small operations cover a large total area: More than 50% of Europe's forests are owned by around 16 million private owners.

Source: Press release from FSC-Sweden