Concerns Rise Over Logging Practices After Severe Weather in Västernorrland

Recent heavy rains in Västernorrland have intensified criticism of logging practices, particularly clear-cutting, which advocates claim exacerbated recent infrastructure damages. Following storms that led to two train derailments and a fatal road accident, the Swedish Forest Agency (Skogsstyrelsen) highlighted the risk of logging activities near roads and railways. The agency has long warned that clear-cutting can increase runoff, worsening damage during heavy rainfall. Two weeks after these incidents, Skogsstyrelsen released maps identifying logging areas near the derailments: one near Skorped in Örnsköldsvik municipality, and the other near Ramvik in Härnösand municipality. These findings suggest a direct correlation between logging practices and the recent accidents, igniting a debate on the sustainability of current logging regulations and their impacts on public safety.