Implementation of European Landscape Convention in Sweden

Signature 2001, ratification 2010

The ELC entered into force in Sweden on 1 May 2011 and the Swedish National Heritage Board was tasked with its implementation. The Board's proposals for implementation focus on creating understanding for the underlying motives, pointing out the potential of the ELC, and illustrating the shortcomings that exist in current landscape management. The Swedish National Heritage Board has  proposed measures that can be developed step by step, in broad collaboration with other relevant parties.

More specifically, Sweden has committed to:

• Recognize the importance of the landscape in its own legislation
  
• Raise awareness of landscape value and importance of civil society, private organizations, and public authorities
• Promote participation in decisions and processes related to landscape locally and regionally
• Develop a holistic view of landscape and a sustainable management
• Share knowledge and participate in European cooperation on issues related to landscape

In addition to the Lifescape project, several other ELC related initiatives are under way in Sweden. Since fall 2010, the Transport Administration has been working on a project on landscape in long-term planning aimed at developing a methodology in which the landscape is used as one of the starting points for long term infrastructure planning.

In May 2011, the National Heritage Board, in conjunction with Royal Forestry and Agriculture (KSLA) and the Royal Academy of Letters (KVHAA) held a seminar on the Landscape Convention and its implementation. Results of the workshop will be published in KSLA's publication series.

Also in May 2011, the National Heritage Board in conjunction with the Royal forestry and agriculture (KSLA) and the Royal Academy of Letters (KVHAA) a seminar on Landscape Convention and its implementation in Sweden. The results of the workshop will be published in KSLA's publication series.

Further related activities can be found here.

Contact

Swedish National Heritage Board 
Department for Sustainable Management
Box 5405, S-114 84 Stockholm
Ms Anita Bergenstrahle-Lind
Email
Tel +46 8 5191 84 24

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Downloads

• Swedish National Heritage Board Proposals for Implementation of the European Landscape Convention in Sweden (EN)
• Report of the government commission on the European Landscape Convention's implementation in Sweden (SE)
• Landscape News - Magazine in English about how Sweden works with landscape - 2009 
  
• Landscape in Swedish Law - Basis for Landscape Convention Implementation - 2008 (SE)
• ELC in the local community - 2008 (SE)
  
• European Landscape Convention brochure (SE)
  
• Nordic landscapes and the and the European Landscape Convention brochure (EN)