Who does what in outdoor recreations in Sweden?
Outdoor recreation contributes to health, understanding of nature, and regional development. A multitude of different actors work jointly to develop outdoor recreation in Sweden.
The Swedish EPA is working on maintaining and developing the conditions for outdoor recreation. We coordinate the work of the authorities on behalf of the government. What outdoor recreation means and the associations it evokes vary. In the work of the Swedish EPA, we use the following definition of outdoor recreation (friluftsliv):
Being outdoors in natural and cultural landscapes for well-being and nature experiences without the expectation of competition.
Outdoor recreation can entail different forms of contact with and experiences in nature. Nature includes everything from urban green areas such as parks, to wilderness areas. Essentially, outdoor recreation builds on the interaction between people and nature. In that interaction, individual experiences arise which create different value for people.
An important foundation for outdoor recreation is the Right of Public Access (allemansrätten), which gives everyone the freedom to enjoy the Swedish outdoors. The Right of Public Access grants universal access to nature but comes with obligations as well as rights. This means acting responsibly in nature and around wildlife and showing consideration towards landowners and other visitors.
Value of outdoor recreation
Outdoor recreation generates social, economic and environmental value. Aside from improving public health, outdoor recreation stimulates job creation and regional development, and contributes to improved knowledge and understanding of nature.
Health
Outdoor recreation contributes to improving both physical and mental health, which indirectly leads to socio-economic savings for society. Research has shown that regular physical activities and contact with nature enhances quality of life, strengthens our immune system and has positive effects in preventing cardio-vascular disease, diabetes and stress.
Regional development
Outdoor recreation strengthens the economy and stimulates job creation all over the country. Nature-based tourism is a fast-growing branch of the tourism industry and provides job opportunities, not the least in rural areas.
Understanding of nature
Contact between people and nature has decreased dramatically over the past hundred years. Outdoor recreation plays an important role in building understanding for nature and all things living. Today, a large part of the human population lives in urban areas. Urban green areas and nature in close proximity to urban areas is thus an important part of spatial planning. The more people that are given the opportunity to be outdoors in nature, the more will want to protect it.
A multitude of actors involved
Outdoor recreation is largely carried out in an unorganised manner and personal commitment for outdoor recreation is a strong and important driver. At the same time there are nearly two million memberships in outdoor recreation organisations in Sweden. Outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism consist of many actors. To develop the conditions for well-functioning outdoor recreation, the work of these actors needs to be carried out through dialogue and collaboration.
The outdoor recreation policy, with its ten objectives, provides a supportive tool for actors involved in outdoor recreation. Actors include national and regional authorities, municipalities, companies, non-governmental organisations, schools and universities, landowners, and many more.
The work to carry out and follow up on the outdoor recreation policy is a shared responsibility between several national agencies. The Swedish EPA is responsible for reporting to the government and coordinating the follow up of the ten objectives of the outdoor recreation policy.
The national agencies are responsible for creating conditions for outdoor recreation in Sweden, but the implementation is realised by a large number of regional and local actors.
Listed below are those national agencies who are commissioned to work with outdoor recreation in Sweden.
The Swedish Environment Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket)
The National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (Boverket)
The Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten)
The Swedish Forest Agency (Skogsstyrelsen)
The Swedish Board of Agriculture (Statens Jordbruksverk)
The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (Havs- och vattenmyndigheten)
The Swedish Agency for Participation (Myndigheten för delaktighet)
The National Agency for Education (Skolverket)
The Swedish National Heritage Board (Riksantikvarieämbetet)
The National Property Board Sweden (Statens Fastighetsverk)
Statistics Sweden (Statistiska centralbyrån)
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket)