In the old lime quarry near Åker’s mill, known from the film about Ronja Rövardotter, there is a barbecue area and a toilet. There is also a shorter hiking trail, adapted for both prams and wheelchairs.
Martin Lindqvist is convinced that the government’s budget will affect the nature reserve.
– This will have consequences for outdoor life. We also cannot invest in new projects such as increasing the accessibility of more nature reserves, we cannot afford that investment at the moment, he says.
Review the consequences
In Sörmland there are 177 nature reserves and the county board is responsible for the management of 154 of them.
– The grants for the nature reserves went from 27 million last year to 11 this year. The big investment in nature conservation we have had in the past will not continue, says Erik Hjortsberg, head of unit for the nature conservation unit at the Sörmland County Administrative Board.
He does not know what the priorities will look like now, when you look at the consequences of the budget.
The bark beetle can run amok freely
In Kalkbro, the spruce bark borer has also gained a foothold. In the past, traps have been set and loggers helped to fell and bark infested trees to stop the spread of the beetle.
– These are costly measures, so I find it difficult to see that we can do this. When I got the news about the budget, I was both surprised and sad, says Martin Lindqvist.
– Sörmland is probably the county that has been worst affected by the spruce bark beetle. We will need to prioritize safety in the areas with a lot of spruce bark beetle damage where hiking trails, houses, power lines and roads are located. I hope the money is enough for that, continues Erik Hjortsberg.
Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtar believes that despite a tight budget, Sweden is still one of the countries at the forefront of climate and environmental policy.