Sweden is to almost 70 percent covered with forests and more so in our four regions in the Swedish North, with even more than 70 percent forest cover.

We are glad that you are paying attention to one of northern Sweden's most important questions, our viable forest sector, and made time with short notice to sit down with the Swedish and Finish governments to sort out the relations between member states and some recent EU initiatives regarding our forests.

Together with Finland we have almost one million small forest owners, dependent on their forests for which they care for over generations before harvest.

We hope that your visit in Sweden will highlight not only the economic perspective on our forest sector but also our over generations gained competence and knowledge as well as our deep national love for our beautiful and healthy growing forests.