<p>Forestry operations in Sweden can be traced a long way back in history. The overall emphasis has traditionally been on the forests’ economic or profitable role, even though they are also of great ecological and social interests. Nevertheless, the focus has shifted during the last decade due to the impact of sustainable development. A new Forestry Act has now provided the Swedish forestry with a new policy which is guided by two equally-weighted objectives; production and environmental concern. The European Union (EU) has also adapted to the direction of sustainable development. It places particular interest in the creation of sustainable coastal areas within the union. </p><p>The aim of the Bachelor of Science thesis was to investigate how Swedish coastal forest owners define their role in the creation of sustainable coastal forests. The study is built on interviews which were conducted with seven forest owners, all of whom have properties in the coastal zones of Östergötland and Kalmar. These two counties are situated in the south-eastern part of Sweden. </p><p>The study raises three different issues. The first is the manner in which the informants shape their knowledge of the existing forestry legislation, based on their identities and responsibilities. The second concerns the preconditions with which they are faced when managing their coastal forest properties and whether or not they see the new legislation as a shift in focus. The final issue highlights the importance of local knowledge and looks at the participation of the informants in the development of new regulations. </p><p>The following conclusions are drawn from the investigations. Many owners of forest properties do not identify themselves as forest owners; it is therefore important to be aware of this distinction which is made between being a forest owner and being the holder of a forest property. The coastal forest owners who were interviewed run their forests according to their individual situations. Because of this they do not appear to be part of any shift of focus within the Swedish forestry. As a result, they may not have a defined role in its development. This role would probably be clearer or greater if their local knowledge were more explicitly valuated.</p>

Forestry operations in Sweden can be traced a long way back in history. The overall emphasis has traditionally been on the forests’ economic or profitable role, even though they are also of great ecological and social interests. Nevertheless, the focus has shifted during the last decade due to the impact of sustainable development. A new Forestry Act has now provided the Swedish forestry with a new policy which is guided by two equally-weighted objectives; production and environmental concern. The European Union (EU) has also adapted to the direction of sustainable development. It places particular interest in the creation of sustainable coastal areas within the union. The aim of the Bachelor of Science thesis was to investigate how Swedish coastal forest owners define their role in the creation of sustainable coastal forests. The study is built on interviews which were conducted with seven forest owners, all of whom have properties in the coastal zones of Östergötland and Kalmar. These two counties are situated in the south-eastern part of Sweden. The study raises three different issues. The first is the manner in which the informants shape their knowledge of the existing forestry legislation, based on their identities and responsibilities. The second concerns the preconditions with which they are faced when managing their coastal forest properties and whether or not they see the new legislation as a shift in focus. The final issue highlights the importance of local knowledge and looks at the participation of the informants in the development of new regulations. The following conclusions are drawn from the investigations. Many owners of forest properties do not identify themselves as forest owners; it is therefore important to be aware of this distinction which is made between being a forest owner and being the holder of a forest property. The coastal forest owners who were interviewed run their forests according to their individual situations. Because of this they do not appear to be part of any shift of focus within the Swedish forestry. As a result, they may not have a defined role in its development. This role would probably be clearer or greater if their local knowledge were more explicitly valuated.