Sweden has rich and vast forests that provide important revenues to the country's forestry sector, while at the same time serving as a cherished recreational resource. Since they cover such a large proportion of Sweden, our forests are of major importance for the conservation of biological diversity and our cultural heritage. The forests are mostly coniferous, although with a varying proportion of deciduous trees. Deciduous forests are common only in the southernmost part of Sweden.

The forest landscape has been shaped by human activity over a long period of time, and therefore pristine forests are very rare and can be found only in the far north. Most of the forest is privately owned, by private persons or by one of the large forest companies.

Government policy places equal emphasis on wood production and environmental sustainability. Although much can be achieved by promoting sustainable forestry methods, the conservation of forest biological diversity also requires that areas are excluded from production, in national parks and reserves.