Estimates of the needs for forest reserves in Sweden

We estimated the need for nature reserves to maintain forest biodiversity in Sweden. Using habitat-loss thresholds for long-term survival of resident vertebrate "umbrella" species, and differences in forest disturbance regimes, we estimated the long-term protection in four biogeographic regions. No reserve need was assumed for forest environments that can be emulated by normal management. The estimates of the long-term need of reserves ranged from 9% (northern Sweden) to 16% southernmost Sweden) and was divided into: (1) existing protected forests (1.6-0.6%): (2) estimated benefits for biodiversity of special forest management (0.7-0%): (3) existing unprotected forests with high conservation value (3.5-1.9%). The remaining areas required to satisfy the long-term reserve goal were cultural landscape habitats (0-2.2%), as well as land for habitat restoration and re-creation (3-11%). Our analysis suggests that it is urgent to maintain all remnants of natural forests and cultural landscape habitats, but that forest protection alone is insufficient to maintain forest biodiversity.