About SLU Forest Map

Last changed: 19 June 2024

The demand for up to date digital information about our forests is increasing, as is the use of geographic information systems (GIS). Many users are interested in the possibility of viewing the forest coverage of a certain area and the tree species it contains.

The SLU Forest Map contains comprehensive, highly detailed information covering a large portion of Sweden’s woodlands and forests. The maps have been created through a co-processing of field data from Sweden’s National Forest Inventory (SLU) and satellite images. The 2015 SLU Forest Map also includes surface models from the Land Survey.

Anyone may download and use the SLU Forest Map.

If published, the map’s source must be stated: 

  • Source: SLU Forest Map, Department of Forest Resource Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

SLU Forest Map has been developed and produced by the Division of Forest Remote Sensing at the Department of Forest Resource Management, SLU Umeå.

The map’s funding bodies include the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the Swedish Forest Agency, the Swedish National Space Agency, RESE, SUFOR, and SLU.

Facts:

  • The SLU Forest Map includes highly detailed information about the surface area of most of Sweden’s forests.
  • The 2015 SLU Forest Map includes information about the heights, species and timber resources from Sweden’s forest areas. The 2000, 2005 and 2010 SLU Forest Maps also contain information about ages.
  • The 2015 SLU Forest Map is based on raster data with a resolution of 12.5x12.5 metres in the SWEREF 99 TM projection. The resolution for the 2000, 2005 and 2010 SLU Forest Maps is 25x25m, and they are available in both RT90 2.5 gon V and SWEREF 99 TM projections.
  • The satellite images obtained for the 2015 SLU Forest Map are from Sentinel 2, with surface models retrieved from the Land Survey. The satellite images for the 2000 SLU Forest Map were taken from LANDSAT 5 and LANDSAT 7, and images for the 2005 and 2010 SLU Forest Map from SPOT 4 and SPOT 5.
  • The raster layers can be used in geographic information systems (GIS) for descriptions and analyses at local, regional and national levels.