Environmental Impact of Militarization in Gotland

GOTLAND, SWEDEN - AUGUST 04: A disforested area is seen along the Brorakan road at north of Visby City in Gotland Island, Sweden on August 04, 2022. Thousands of trees were removed from both sides of the road to enable it for military air carriers’ landing of large capacity such as C-130 Hercules planes in Gotland, Sweden, August 04th, 2022. The presence of military troops in Gotland island increased in recent years in the frame of the Russian military operations against Ukraine, starting with the annexation of Crimea back in March 2014. Since then, the Swedish military is taking steps to strengthen its presence in the island with a large acceptance of the local population, yet triggering the concern of the environmental groups who observe the deployment of the army personnel and military exercises across the island as a negative impact in the life ecosystem at both: in the human and the wild spheres.