FEATURE On 8 September, about 60 interested people gathered at Baggböle herrgård for an educational afternoon about the history of forestry and its development.
For a Sunday afternoon, a combined seminar and field trip was held for people interested in forests, forestry and its history. The afternoon was held at the manor of Baggböle, called Baggböle herrgård, and had four speakers who all spoke about forests, forestry and the so-called “baggböleri”.
Baggböle herrgård is a popular tourist destination and has a beautiful location along the Umeå River, just west of Umeå. Baggböle has been one of the most important places in the history of timber industry in Västerbotten, and is the place that has given rise to the term "Baggböleri", which refers to illegal logging on state land and the dubious trading of logging rights and forest properties in Northern Sweden, that took place during the 1800s and 1900s. The purpose of the afternoon was to invite the interested public to discussions with researchers, as well as present a new angle on a well-known historical period.
The afternoon offered a total of four lectures. Two of them had a more historical perspective and contained insights into the phenomenon of baggböleri. The other two linked back to the history of Baggböle herrgård to give insights into the present and current developments in Northern Sweden.
The first two lectures were given by Svenbjörn Kilander, Professor Emeritus at Mid Sweden University, and Erik Törnlund, Ph.D. in Economic History at Umeå University. Kilander presented ideological reflections on the forestry practices in the 1900s, and how the exploitation symbolized the advance of industrialization in Northern Sweden. Törnlund talked about the development of Västerbotten's timber frontier along the Umeå and Vindeln rivers. By placing the rise of forestry in a broader historical perspective, he highlighted the long-term effects of baggböleri on both society and the landscape.
Irma Olofsson.
Image Henrik J. PerssonThe last two talks addressed contemporary aspects of forestry and how the legacy of “baggböleri” still lingers. Irma Olofsson, Ph.D. in Human Geography at Umeå University, talked about the working conditions in the Swedish forests today, such as the tough conditions many migrant workers face in berry picking and in the forestry industry, and pointed out similarities between the exploitation of today’s workforce and the historical “baggböleri”. Erland Mårald, Professor of History of Ideas at Umeå University, spoke about the green transition and compared how current sustainability efforts relate to the industrial methods that once unsustainably exploited forests. He noted that, despite having better tools to protect the environment today, we face similar challenges as in the days of the baggböleri – where short-term gains risk having long-term consequences.
A walk in Arboretum Norr.
Image Henrik J. PerssonAfter an introduction by Johnny Schimmel, Forester, Ecologist and Director of Arboretum Norr, the participants were given a guided tour of the arboretum. Arboretum Norr is a botanical garden located in Baggböle where trees and shrubs from Europe, North America and East Asia are grown. With the river as a backdrop, the group enjoyed a communal coffee break, providing time to exchange thoughts and reflections on the role of forests throughout history.
The day concluded with an engaging discussion, where participants reflected on the day's lectures and posed questions to the speakers, and them leaving the event enriched with insights into both past and present forestry practices. The event was also an example of how research organisations can collaborate with local organisations to jointly exchange knowledge and discussions with local roots.
The event was organised by Future Forests, the Royal Scythian Society, Arboretum Norr, the Forest History Society and the Hembygdsföreningen Umbygda, with the aim of spreading knowledge, arousing interest and encouraging discussions between the public and researchers.