Secondment at Naturvårdsverket
Last month, my PhD project, "Data and knowledge about visitors to enhance collaborative governance of multifunctional landscapes", took me to Naturvårdsverket. I spent four weeks at the Friluftsliv (Outdoor Recreation) unit and gained firsthand insight into their mandates, challenges and ambitions. These secondments, whether in public agencies or private businesses, are supported by Marie Curie projects with the goal of strengthening the link between research and society while increasing the relevance and applicability of research. For my project, I will spend time at both Naturvårdsverket in Sweden and Miljødirektoratet in Norway. Both serve as environmental protection agencies and include Friluftsliv as one of their responsibilities.
Naturvårdsverket, founded in 1967, coordinates and oversees Sweden’s environmental policies. It is a governmental agency with offices in Stockholm and Östersund. I was welcomed into the Friluftsliv unit, which belongs to the environmental planning and compliance department and works at the intersection of social and natural aspects of outdoor life. They are responsible for coordinating the ten national outdoor recreation goals, as for example securing the “right of public access” (Allemansrätten), outdoor recreation for good public health, and increasing knowledge about outdoor recreation (https://www.naturvardsverket.se/en/topics/outdoor-recreation/ten-objectives-for-outdoor-recreation-policy/).
Each of those ten goals is assessed and evaluated regularly. However, as our understanding of outdoor recreation shifts over time, alongside societal changes and political agendas, the goals are flexible enough to adapt to these shifts and thus remain relevant in the long run. These outdoor goals intersect with various agencies, organizations, and associations, such as for example traffic, school, and building agencies. Consequently, a key aspect of the unit’s work involves bringing stakeholders together and facilitating knowledge sharing. In this way, the unit supports coherent action of the involved stakeholders by curating networks, gathering insights, and developing practical guidelines.
From the outset, I felt a warm welcome from the team, whose engagement, forward-thinking mindset, and motivation made it a pleasure to be part of their unit! During meetings, lunches, and, of course, during fika (Swedish coffee breaks), they shared their experiences, challenges, and insights, which are highly interesting to me and allow me to deepen my understanding of my research in the Swedish context. While working at both Naturvårdsverket offices, I encountered a variety of people focusing on diverse topics, from soil pollution and EU policy adaptation to sewage treatment, providing a full picture of the range of tasks that Naturvårdsverket covers. Overall, the atmosphere at Naturvårdsverket felt open and engaged, with colleagues working with both dedication and autonomy, probably reflecting the Nordic culture of trust and shared responsibility.
Friluftsliv Conference Norway
During my stay with the unit, I had the chance to attend the Friluftsliv Conference in Fredrikstad, Norway, along with two colleagues from the team. Over three days, we attended talks, discussions, and excursions covering topics ranging from the health benefits of outdoor activities for youth to how Besøksforvaltning (Visitor Governance) can strategically guide outdoor recreation by balancing social, environmental, and economic dimensions and the interpretation of the “right to roam”.
Friluftsliv itself is not just about being outside. It is a cultural and philosophical way of engaging with nature, a way of living. The term, which roughly translates to “open-air living”, was coined by Henrik Ibsen in a poem from 1859, although the concept was present long before. It’s not tied to a specific activity, but rather a way to embrace nature.
Even though Sweden and Norway both have strong traditions of friluftsliv and a legal right to access nature, there are some interesting differences in how these traditions are organized. In Sweden, I noticed a greater focus on well-being, accessibility, and inclusivity, while in Norway, the emphasis seemed to be more on active movement. Further, the “right to roam”, which builds a basis for friluftsliv is in Sweden part of the constitution while in Norway, it is part of the Outdoor Recreation Act from 1957.
As part of the conference, there was a celebration of the Norwegian Friluftsliv Year 2025 organized by Norsk Friluftsliv in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate and Environment. The aim was to inspire people to engage in friluftsliv, celebrate its benefits, spark enthusiasm, and share knowledge. For the celebrations, music was composed and presented to the audience on one of the evenings, during which dinner and a social gathering were held outdoors. Additionally, as a fun fact, each Friluftsliv Year features a specially designed knitting pattern, if you’re inspired to create your own hiking jumper! (https://friluftslivetsar.no/nyheter/strikkeoppskrift-friluftslivets-ar-genser )
Swedish Hiking Trail Forum
Just a few days later, Peter, Coen and I joined the Hiking Trail Forum, a national gathering perfectly hosted by Naturvårdsverket. It brings together many actors involved in trail development: STF (Swedish Tourist Association), regional coordinators, pilgrimage organizers, Naturkartan (Swedish digital trail map), and many more.
Attending the presentations and conversations, it once again became clear that trails are much more than mere nature infrastructure; they serve as a social space where various requirements must be navigated. Additionally, Coen and I had the opportunity to present our research and facilitate a workshop related to our research topics. In one part, along with the participants, we discussed the currently existing national framework for collaboration on hiking trails and how it can provide knowledge exchange between different parties and strengthen collaboration. This, along with the many conversations we had, gave us valuable insights into current dynamics in Sweden.
Reflections on the Co-creation of Landscapes and friluftsliv
Back in Östersund, after these intense weeks of meetings, discussions, and new experiences, I took some time to enjoy the landscape with an adventurous hike to Falkfångarfjällets topp and a calm fishing boat trip. While immersing myself in nature, I reflected on the efforts, organizations, and history behind enabling these experiences.
The way landscapes are culturally framed, valued, and governed shapes our experiences within them, which influences our further thinking and engagement, and in turn shapes our landscapes again.
Perhaps that is the recursive beauty of friluftsliv: it is not only a way of enjoying the outdoors but also a means of participating in the ongoing co-creation of landscape, identity, and meaning. This invites us to take responsibility for our actions and gives us the opportunity to contribute our perspectives and knowledge in actively shaping the landscapes.
