Statistics Sweden produces yearly statistics on protected nature in collaboration with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. A protected area refers to a geographically defined area that is permanently designated, regulated and administered to achieve specific aims and conservation goals. In Sweden, “protected area” is a collective term for protection under Chapter 7 of the Environmental Code and according to many of the nature conservation agreements under the Land Code.

Sweden’s national and official statistics on protected nature contain information on a selection of protected areas under Chapter 7 of the Environmental Code. Information is also presented on protected rivers, protected species, nature conservation agreements under the Land Code, Intra-governmental agreements, and forest land covered by land replacement.

Explanations concerning the table Formally protected nature 31/12/2022:

• The data refers to areas that applied (that is, for which judgment was final) on 31 December 2022. The forms of protection nature reserves, Natura 2000 and nature conservation agreements include areas without restrictions, for example without regulations against forestry.

• Areas in Sweden's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) are included in the Natura 2000 protection forms and in totals (line 11 and 16). Area for Sweden's entire economic zone has been used in calculating the share of Natura 2000 areas and totals in line 11 and 18. Share for other forms of protection is calculated based on area for Swedish territory, according to Statistics Sweden's official statistics on land and water areas: www.scb.se/mi0802-en, reference time 1 January 2023.

• Proportions and areas cannot be added up because some protection types overlap. Statistics adjusted for overlapping areas are marked with the text “without overlap”.

• Nature conservation agreements include the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s and the Swedish Forest Agency’s nature conservation agreements, the White-Backed Woodpecker Action Plan, and “ekoparker”. Several agreements do not have end date information available. Among the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s agreements, 95 agreements, comprising 2 201 hectares, have a remaining duration of less than 15 years.

• Information about the number of areas related to intra-governmental agreements with the Swedish Fortifications Agency was retrieved from “Överenskommelse om skydd av särskilt värdefulla naturskogsområden, Nv Reg. no. 310-167-10 No.” (available in Swedish).