Specialskydd

Specialskydd is a protective designation within Swedish environmental law that provides enhanced protection for certain species, populations, habitats, or natural values deemed particularly vulnerable or important. The designation is used to prevent harm, disturbance, or degradation and to support conservation goals. It can apply at the level of individual species (for example threatened birds or mammals), at the level of a population, or to specific habitats or sites.

Under the Environmental Code (Miljöbalken) and related legislation, specialskydd may impose restrictions on activities that could threaten the protected element. Common prohibitions include harm or capture of individuals, disturbance of breeding or roosting behavior, damage to nests or habitats, pollution, and large-scale alterations of land or water. In many cases, activities that would affect the protected element require permits or prior consultation with authorities.

Designation and management are carried out by competent authorities, such as the county administrative boards (länsstyrelserna) and national agencies like Naturvårdsverket. The process typically involves assessment of ecological value, threats, and feasibility of protection measures, and it may include monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, penalties for violations, and any exemptions granted under law.

Specialskydd often intersects with other protection regimes, including nature reserves, Natura 2000 designations, and species-specific protections. Together, these tools aim to safeguard biodiversity and ecological integrity while allowing sustainable use and development where compatible with conservation objectives.