Land ownership and mineral exploration and extraction in Sweden

Abstract The protection of the ownership of land and extraction of natural resources has been much in focus in Sweden in recent years. Government inquiries into the forestry sector and protection of the environment have succeeded each other. The sustainable supply of innovation-critical metals and minerals and its impact on agriculture and forestry have also been the subject of such inquiries. This article aims to problematize and discuss land ownership and mineral exploration and extraction in Sweden in relation to private and public interests. The emphasis is on private property and the landowner perspective vis-à-vis the use of mineral resources. The concept of property is only dealt with on a general level. The ownership of land and various legal restrictions are discussed on the basis of a theoretical model. The article includes a brief overview of ownership and the control of minerals in Norway and Finland. In addition, an overview comparison between minerals and forests in Sweden is done based on parameters that include legislation, public and private interests as well as rights related to the ownership of land, forestry and exploration and extraction of minerals. Changes in land use give rise to both negative and positive effects which should be regularly debated in conjunction with the system of compensation. The general acceptance of the fact that individual companies may prospect and extract minerals without the consent of the landowners is perhaps somewhat lower than when the state is a player. The state as an owner of mines and forests must set a good example as regards attitudes to restrictions and taking consideration of the environment and other stakeholders.