Presentation of scholarships and prizes at Södra’s AGM

Lingbygden independent school received SEK 25,000 in scholarship money from the Gösta Edström Honorary Fund.

Citation:
The forest in schools and preschools – Lingbygden independent school receives SEK 25,000 in scholarship money for its efforts to strengthen the school’s forest profile. The money will be used to buy playground equipment with a forest theme for the preschool and to strengthen the school library with books about forests and nature. Many of the children at the school have links with family forestry and the goal is to raise awareness and knowledge of the importance of forests.

“There are probably many Södra’s members who, like me, are hoping that children will share our interest in forests, but that is not something we can take for granted. Introducing the forest to a 14-year old by showing them 20,000 container-grown seedlings and furrows that stretch all the way to the horizon is not the right way to kindle their interest. This scholarship will help us at Lingbygden independent school to awaken our students’ enthusiasm for nature, and for having fun in the forest,” said Martin Kraft, Chairman of Lingbygden independent school.

The Lars-Eric Åström Prize was awarded to Ola Persson, Sven Sjunnesson, Jan Sandström and Ulf Österblom for their efforts to record the history of the Swedish forest-owner movement.

Citation:
The forest-owner movement arose in the wake of industrialisation. The aim was to develop forestry and forest management, but also to represent and promote the economic and political interests of private forest owners. The subsequent development has been both exciting and spectacular. Who could have known that forest management would become such a successful story, that we could succeed in creating the rich forests that exist today?

Who could have known that the forest industry would become the tower of strength it is today, that it would play such a pivotal role in the growth of the Swedish welfare system by 2019? And who could have known that the largest and most profitable Swedish forest company in 2019 would be an association of forest owners? Without knowledge of our history, we are like a tree without roots. The winners of the 2019 Lars-Eric Åström Prize have ensured that we have the history of the forest-owner movement in our sails as we move together into the future.

The Christer Segerstéen Prize was awarded to Victor Johansson and Rasmus Lidén. Viktor and Rasmus are both studying Forestry Machine Operation at Svenljunga Natural Resource School.

Citation:
It is not easy to find skilled machine operators. Svenljunga Natural Resource School is one of the few schools that offers this kind of training. The school has selected Viktor and Rasmus because they are talented students who have gained extensive knowledge about what working as a machine operator in the forest involves. Viktor and Rasmus have also demonstrated their skills and ability when working with machines in the forest.

The Gösta Edström Scholarship aims to provide opportunities for research, development work or studies in areas related to forestry, the forest industry or agricultural associations and is awarded to deserving people, preferably members or employees of Södra.

The Lars-Eric Åström Prize recognises people who have contributed to the development of cooperative enterprise, or to the advancement of family forestry.

The Christer Segerstéen Prize aims to inspire and reward young people studying some form of forestry programme and who have demonstrated community involvement. Applicants are required to present qualitative studies or essays, as well as good references from their institute of education.