The process of creating Biosphere Reserves- An ... - Naturvårdsverket

SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REPORT 6563
The process of creating Biosphere Reserves
supportive of the process? How have the relevant local stakeholders been involved
and what is their attitude to the work/process?)
In all the implementation processes to achieve Biosphere Reserve status, extensive
work has been done to communicate and anchor the idea of the Biosphere concept
with local stakeholders within the respective areas. The anchoring work has partly
been orientated towards informing the general public, but also more directed at
specific stakeholders who are considered to have a special interest in, or be useful
to the work. In the formation of the working groups and/or steering groups the
initiator of the work chose, to a large extent, to work with a more targeted selection
of partners. The representation of the municipalities has played an important role in
all the candidature processes, partly through the participation of officials in the
working group and municipal politicians in the steering group.
The representatives of the municipalities have to varying degrees been of significance
for the development of the content and the activities connected to the respective
Biosphere Reserves. However, in several areas municipal politicians have had
a very peripheral importance for the focus of the work and they have rarely stood
up for the visionary significance of the work. The municipal anchoring and participation
has been in our opinion comprehensive in Kristianstad Wetland, Lake Vänern
Archipelago and Mount Kinnekulle and in Blekinge Archipelago. In Eastern
Slopes of Lake Vättern we believe that the municipal anchoring has grown steadily
during the candidature process, and in Nedre Dalälven the municipalities have been
primary supporters in the form of financiers.
Above all the selection of collaborative partners has stemmed from where there has
been involvement in the issues that were considered relevant to the development of
Biosphere work. To a certain degree the collaborative partners have been chosen to
give the work a legitimacy both in formal significance, but also in the sense of
creating credibility and trust for the work. The municipalities, the County Administrative
Boards and the central authorities have all, to a certain degree, stood for
creating legitimate expression. Several non-profit making organisations and interest
associations such as representatives for non-profit making nature conservation,
as well as individual landowners, have also been able to contribute in giving the
work legitimacy through showing their long-term commitment in specific issues
that could be linked to Biosphere work.
An inclusive stance has been observed in all Biosphere Reserves regarding activities
outwith the working and steering groups respectively. The operations that are
linked to the stakeholders active within associations, and businesses within the
Biosphere Reserves, have to varying degrees been included in Biosphere work.
This inclusive way of working which encourages non-profit making voluntary
participants, permeates the operations in a number of Biosphere Reserves. This
does not however automatically mean that the involved associations have some
direct influence over the Biosphere Reserve’s development and related activities.
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