Northern Europe’s untamed land

Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe

Northern Europe’s untamed land

Northern Europe’s untamed land

Erlend Haarberg

Northern Europe’s untamed land

Northern Europe’s untamed land

Erlend Haarberg

Northern Europe’s untamed land

Northern Europe’s untamed land

Orsolya Haarberg

Northern Europe’s untamed land

Northern Europe’s untamed land

Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe

Northern Europe’s untamed land

Northern Europe’s untamed and unique land – home of the Sami, charismatic wildlife species and natural treasures.

Swedish Lapland – Sápmi – is a unique blend of untamed nature and cultural heritage. Here old-growth forests, mountains, glaciers, free-flowing rivers and extensive wetlands co-exist with the indigenous Sami community since millennia. There is no other place in continental Europe with such vast, uninhabited, road-less and original landscapes as Swedish Lapland.

The large-scale reindeer migration and river systems shape the landscape as well as people’s lives. However, even under such pristine conditions, there are threats and needs to ensure that the uniqueness of the land remains and that some lost components are brought back.

With the snow-capped mountains, glaciers, unbroken taiga forest, vast wetlands and rich wildlife, Swedish Lapland is known for its exceptional natural beauty. Within this landscape rewilding aims to empower local communities, including the Sami people, to not only coexist with and preserve nature and its wildlife but also derive their livelihoods from these pristine lands.


Rewilding vision

For each rewilding landscape we developed an inspiring vision that shows our ambition for the next ten years. Together with our local partners we work to make this vision a reality.

What are we doing here?

Wilder rivers

Rewilding Sweden is committed to reviving northern Swedish regions. Deeply rooted in the pristine landscapes of Norrbotten and Västerbotten, the team aims to breath new life into forests scarred by intensive management and rivers harnessed for human needs. By revitalizing rivers and forests, they create havens for vital animal and plant species, nurturing a flourishing ecosystem.

Lapland’s rivers define the landscape, but human intervention, including damming and other impacts, has disrupted these ecosystems. A long history of use, particularly for floating logs to the sea in the past, have altered the rivers and some are dammed.

In collaboration with Norbotten County and fishing associations, Rewilding Sweden works to boost fish populations, remove barriers, restore riverbeds, and rejuvenate spawning grounds.

Linked to the restoration of rivers is the restoration of the wetlands flanking those rivers, especially the peatland systems that regulate water flows and store vast amounts of carbon. In the recent past, many wetlands were drained to enhance the growth of forests, acting as a source of carbon. Rewilding Sweden is reversing this trend, by contributing to healthier river ecosystems and peatlands.

Nature-based businesses

Beyond river restoration, Rewilding Sweden is exploring new nature-based business opportunities. They foster nature-based business models that empower local communities to thrive while safeguarding their natural heritage.

Their commitment goes beyond conservation; it’s a mission to support sustainable livelihoods that coexist harmoniously with nature. Through close collaborations, such as those with the Sami communities, they pave the way for a future where communities can not only coexist with nature but also prosper from its preservation. The ultimate goal is clear: to establish a sustainable ecosystem where people and nature coexist in harmony, nurturing both the land and its inhabitants.

Our main achievements

Image gallery

Contact

Henrik Persson

Team leader

Petter Esberg

Rewilding Officer

Anders Granér

Enterprise Officer

Isak Edström

Field Officer

 

Board members

Roland Jansson (interim chair)
Christian Sjöland
Frans Schepers

Advisors to the board

Lars-Anders Baer
Lena Lindén

Partners

The dedicated entity Rewilding Sweden is the preferential partner for Rewilding Europe. Both organisations signed a partnership agreement, including a long-term strategy, for rewilding the Swedish Lapland landscape.

Rewilding Sweden has established partnerships with the local association for the Pite River (Pite Älv Ekonomisk Förening) and the Råne River (Degerselsbygdens Samfällighetsförening). Also, a partnership has been established with the Swedish Ecotourism Association.

Other important, current partnerships include the Norrbotten County Board (Länsstyrelsen Norrbotten), Swedish Lapland, local municipalities (e.g. Arvidsjaur), the Swedish Tourist Association (Svenska Turistföreningen), the Swedish Biodiversity Centre (Centrum för Biologisk Mångfald), and the Grimsö Wildlide Research Station (Grimsö Viltforskningsstation).

 

 

Contact

www.rewilding-sweden.com

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