The process of creating Biosphere Reserves- An ... - Naturvårdsverket
The process of creating Biosphere Reserves- An ... - Naturvårdsverket
The process of creating Biosphere Reserves- An ... - Naturvårdsverket
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SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REPORT 6563<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>process</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>creating</strong> <strong>Biosphere</strong> <strong>Reserves</strong><br />
A recurring challenge for virtually all <strong>Biosphere</strong> Coordinators and those concerned<br />
in the working <strong>process</strong>es, has been explaining and communicating what a <strong>Biosphere</strong><br />
Reserve is. However there is no accepted operational definition <strong>of</strong> what a<br />
<strong>Biosphere</strong> Reserve is, that works for everyone. Two fairly commonly occurring<br />
attempts to define the <strong>Biosphere</strong> Reserve, are; “experimental operation for sustainable<br />
development” or “model area for sustainable development”.<br />
<strong>The</strong> difficulty in communicating what a <strong>Biosphere</strong> Reserve is, has also been experienced<br />
as problematic in a situation where the framework for a geographical delimitation<br />
is perceived as diffused and awkward to deal with. <strong>The</strong> perception <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>Biosphere</strong> concept as difficult to explain rests on several different aspects <strong>of</strong> the<br />
concept. Diffused criteria (UNESCO guidelines) for the geographical and physical<br />
framework, the wider concept <strong>of</strong> sustainable development, and the <strong>Biosphere</strong> concept<br />
to create a balance between sustaining and developing, are examples <strong>of</strong> these<br />
aspects.<br />
<strong>The</strong> duplicitous perspective <strong>of</strong> sustainability and development surrounding the<br />
<strong>Biosphere</strong> work also gives the <strong>Biosphere</strong> Reserve high interest from a communicative<br />
perspective however, as many different interpretative possibilities on what a<br />
<strong>Biosphere</strong> Reserve stands for, open up. In our view the duplicitous perspective has<br />
stimulated important discussions on utilisation against sustainability, at the same<br />
time as it has opened up new opportunities to cooperate across traditional sector<br />
boundaries. <strong>The</strong> wide scope for interpretation on what a <strong>Biosphere</strong> Reserve and<br />
sustainable development are, contribute on one side to <strong>creating</strong> acceptance and<br />
wide commitment for the <strong>Biosphere</strong> concept, but on the other side there is a longterm<br />
risk that concepts such as <strong>Biosphere</strong> Reserve and sustainable development are<br />
watered down, if they are not given a clear contextual framework.<br />
<strong>The</strong> duplicitous perspective also poses the question as to who should have the interpretative<br />
right to define exactly what <strong>Biosphere</strong> <strong>Reserves</strong> are. <strong>The</strong> question on<br />
whose interpretation applies is ultimately a question on power and democracy. This<br />
aspect is for example tangible in the Eastern Slopes <strong>of</strong> Lake Vättern and in Lake<br />
Vänern Archipelago and Mount Kinnekulle when the question <strong>of</strong> the establishment<br />
<strong>of</strong> wind power is on the table, as both wind power advocates and wind power opponents<br />
use the <strong>Biosphere</strong> concept to argue their case.<br />
Administrative and organisational arrangements<br />
(How have organisational and administrative arrangements been resolved?)<br />
<strong>The</strong> five <strong>Biosphere</strong> <strong>Reserves</strong> studied have chosen different organisational solutions.<br />
In Lake Vänern Archipelago and Mount Kinnekulle and the Eastern Slopes<br />
<strong>of</strong> Lake Vättern non-pr<strong>of</strong>it making associations have been created or planned. In<br />
Kristianstad Wetlands the <strong>Biosphere</strong> work is included as part <strong>of</strong> Kristianstad Municipality,<br />
and in Blekinge Archipelago a co-management solution between the<br />
County Administrative Board and the municipalities concerned has been chosen. In<br />
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