Sweden's species protection reform falls short as wild boar numbers surge

A June 30 ruling by Sweden's Land and Environment Supreme Court confirmed that the May 1 amendment to the species protection ordinance has not changed its practical effect. The court noted that landowners still receive minimal compensation when conservation measures restrict their use, citing the Hyttstens case where a family forestry business faces generational challenges.

Separately, Sweden's wild boar population has expanded to an estimated 300,000‑400,000 animals nationwide, causing roughly one billion kronor in annual crop damage and about 12 million kronor in forest losses. Officials warn of disease risks such as African swine fever, increased traffic accidents, and public safety concerns. Calls are growing for a national target to sharply reduce the boar numbers, looking to neighboring Nordic countries with lower populations as a model.