Adapting to Change : The Impacts of the EU Deforestation Regulation on Swedish Independent Forest Owners
2025
Jeansson, Kirsten | Kronholm, Matilda
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) aims to remove commodities contributing to deforestation from the EU market, and therefore global deforestation, by way of increased due diligence requirements. One affected group of Swedish operators is independent forest owners, who log and sell their own timber. This group faces challenges in complying with the EUDR, which could jeopardize their future and the Swedish forest industry at large if not addressed. This thesis identifies barriers and drivers which independent forest owners face in their on-going preparations for the EUDR’s digital traceability requirements when it enters into force 30 December 2025. Additionally, suggestions for how independent forest owners can be supported in complying with the EUDR are proposed. Uncertainty regarding regulatory requirements, an increased administrative burden, costs, lack of practical resources such as time and staff, technological limitations, and a heavy regulatory burden are all barriers which independent forest owners must meet for EUDR compliance. The EUDR is a driving force for globally sustainable forestry and market demand for sustainability and transparency. Still, the obligation to follow regulatory requirements is the primary driving force. This research determined several avenues that can facilitate implementation of the EUDR for independent forest owners: educational tools from forest owner associations (FOAs) and the Swedish Forest Agency (SFA) , economic support, approval of the EUDR’s inclusion in the Omnibus package, a revision of the law to replace ‘absolute traceability’ with origin markings, and the development of a digital platform to streamline EUDR and SFA reporting. These results aspire to aid Swedish independent forest owners in their on-going preparations for the future implementation of the EUDR.
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