Threat levels and threats to red-listed species in Swedish forests

Forests are the main terrestrial habitats in Sweden (65% of the land area), and Swedish forestry is among the most technically developed in the world. Unfortunately, modern forestry has resulted in declining populations of many species. Berg et al (1994) studied the distribution and habitat associations of the red-listed Swedish forest species. They found a higher number of these species in southern than in northern Sweden, and southern deciduous forest was the habitat with most red-listed species, despite its small area. Most species were classified as dependent on specific elements of habitat, such as old trees, logs, and snags. But Swedish red-lists include a broad spectrum of species, from extinct species to relatively common ones, and differences between threat groups might be important for conservation strategies. The aim of this study is to compare the threat categories of extinct, endangered, and vulnerable species with the less threatened categories of rare and care-demanding species, regarding distribution, habitat associations, threats and factors critical for their occurrence.