Lärjeån Valley Nature Reserve planning - Gothenburg

The "Lärjeåns dalgång" conservation project in the city of Gothenburg (Sweden) is an initiative of the city to recommend and create nature reserves with the aim of preserving natural areas for animals, plants and people's recreation as part of the city's Comprehensive Plan. Parts of the area are of national interest for nature conservation and are also part of the EU's protected Natura 2000 nature conservation network as the area is home to flora and fauna like salmon, trout and pearl mussel. Calluna (a consultant company) has been commissioned by the City of Gothenburg to develop a management plan and value descriptions for the nature reserve. The consultation for the project ended and inputs are being processed. The nature reserve will be formed with the support of the Swedish Environmental Code.

Overview

Type of instrument:

Legislative, regulatory and strategic instruments›Urban planning mechanisms

Challenges addressed

Ecologic connectivity
Green space management (e.g. accessibility)
Reconnection to the biosphere / environmental education
Human health, comfort and well-being

Consideration of nature-based solutions:

The creation of a nature reserve in the Lärjeån's valley preserves this area for animals, plants and people's recreation. Biodiversity conservation is a key concern here: The plan aims to promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas and to reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of the ecosystem. Moreover, specific measures to protect endangered species are undertaken. The area is also part of biodiversity offset efforts and is used create and use scientific knowledge for conservation.

Targeted (peri-)urban areas:

Parks and (semi)natural urban green areas

Green areas for water management

Good practice characteristics:

Effective

Sustainable in the long-term

Governance

Government body/bodies

Initiating body:

City Council of Gothenburg

Instrument design:

Details about how the instrument was designed:

The city of Gothenburg recommended (and is to create) the area for nature reserve in its Comprehensive Plan. The county administrative board has identified the area of public interest for outdoor activities, and the consultant company Calluna has been commissioned by the City of Gothenburg to develop a management plan and value descriptions for the nature reserve.

Involvement of non-governmental actors:

Private sector, corporate, business

Citizens or community groups / NGOs

Type of actor involvement:

Co-planning or co-design of instrument (e.g. boards, advisory role)

Instrument implementation:

Type of involvement:

During the process of drawing up proposals for nature reserves in 2017, information/consultation meetings were organized for interested parties and citizens.

Type of non-governmental actors involved:

Citizen councils or consultation for co-planning (e.g. workshops, surveys)

Targeted actors:

Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)

Financing

Sources of funding:

Public national budget

Budget:

Unknown

Details about instrument financing:

The initiative is directly funded with an earmarked public budget from the municipality of Gothenburg and also partly financed by a state LONA grant from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

Is a monitoring framework in place?:

Yes

There is a formal monitoring system, but no further information has been found in public records.

Did an evaluation take place?:

Achieved outcomes and impacts:

Positive environmental impacts include the reduction of climate and energy emissions, a lowered local temperature, the creation and improvement of a green space and habitat, an increased number of protection areas and green space areas, the increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems and a reduced biodiversity loss. Socio-cultural impacts include the improvement of health and well-being, a gain in activities for recreation and exercise, the establishment of a cultural heritage that provides a sense of place, the protection of natural heritage and historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure and education benefits in form of an increased support for education and scientific research and an increased knowledge of locals about local nature. A series of complementary Nature Education Folders include different materials for environmental education to increase societal awareness and knowledge about the native flora and fauna.

Success factors and lessons learned:

A key success factor of the initiative is the involvement of a consultancy to develop the plan for the nature reserve as well as the connection to different plans on EU, national and local levels. Public consultation also helps to ensure greater community support and appropriateness, to meet the needs of the diverse user groups of the area.

Sources and further information

References

List of references:

Urban Nature Atlas (2021). Nature reserve project Lärjeåns dalgång. Available at: https://una.city/nbs/goteborg/nature-reserve-project-larjeans-dalgang

https://goteborg.se/wps/portal/start/kultur-och-fritid/fritid-och-natur/friluftsliv-natur-och/naturomraden/ovriga-trycksaker

Photos

@Evelina Eriksson, Atlas de la Naturaleza Urbana