I realise this could feel like a let-down for some, who may have been taught that for instance Sweden is the land of milk and honey when it comes to camping in the wild. It's true that a lot more freedom is given here, than in many countries in continental europe, and we're proud of the ability to walk on all lands but military sensitive installations.
But it's a fragile give-and-take thing, where respect to the land owner and his/her interests has to be given, at the same time as enjoying the ability to pass through the property.
This "right to roam" is under scrutiny in Sweden at the moment, partly because it's not actually formal law. It's actually only a collection of activities that are not legislated against, but have been unformally collected as "rights" in many instances. As such, it's very fragile, and many of the "loopholes" that we all like to take advantage of, are likely to close up in the coming years. Lot of lobbying for that to happen.
Problem is, the current developing situation is that a lot of activities that were unheard of 100 years ago are common today. This includes weird stuff like industrial scale berry-picking on private land, and organized trips with busloads of tourists camping together and moving through prvate property, paying guides/organizers hefty sums, that never reach the land-owner.
All that as sort of a backdrop. But that being said, in areas where, as you say, trees are in abundance, it is more likely than not, that you will get the permissions you want, by looking up who owns the land, assurring them you're not a ****** who will burn down their livelyhood, and offer them some sort of compensation. A bottle of Scotch probably goes a long way.
Camping in one spot more than a night is, for instance, not allowed, but I've been granted that permission many times, simply by asking for it, and asking for a spot where the farmer or whatever would feel I'm out of his hair.
Big private landowners like companies in the lumber and paper industry can probably be persuaded aswell, but it may require some research. Public land is a bit trickier, I'd say.
Would you agree with me Greger? I'm mostly preaching from my experiences down south, but you're from up north so might take a different view?