Biodiversity loss in Sweden prompts calls for increased environmental investment

Reports based on the WWF Living Planet Report indicate a significant decline in global ecosystems, noting that wild vertebrate population sizes have decreased by an average of 73 percent over the last 50 years.

In Sweden, biodiversity conservation faces critical challenges. According to data reported to the EU, only 20 percent of natural habitats and 40 percent of reported species in Sweden have a favorable conservation status. The 2025 Red List shows that 23 percent of assessed species are red-listed and 10 percent are threatened, marking a continuous increase in these figures.

Key domestic challenges include overgrowth and intensive forestry and agriculture. While some species like the otter, sea eagle, and whooper swan have recovered through conservation efforts, there are calls for stronger environmental laws, increased investment, and scaled-up actions to address the ongoing decline.