Sweden, with its small population and its wealth, is in an ideal position to practise sound conservation. Indeed, it was the first European country to enact legislation making provision for national parks. But, as is true of anywhere else in the world, there have been, and still are, conflicts between conservationists and those who exploit natural resources without thought for the future. Professor Kai Curry-Lindahl, an ffPS Vice-President, has been involved with conservation in Sweden for many years as well as being extremely active at an international level. In July 1983, the British Museum (Natural History) invited him to give a public lecture on the progress of conservation in his country and its attendant problems. Here we publish a shortened version of his talk.