Our place in the biosphere

Storkriket is a candidate to become Sweden's eighth biosphere reserve.

The project aimed to create, together with local actors, the basis for sustainable place and destination development in Storkriket, a UNESCO Biosphere Candidate Area in Skåne. Focusing on the ”Handbook for Sustainable Tourism Development in World Heritage and Cultural Environments”, the project aimed to develop unique natural and cultural values, strengthen local engagement and balance visitor flows to protect sensitive environments. The goal was to make Storkriket a model for sustainable tourism with both economic, cultural and environmental dimensions.

The project included a wide range of activities that engaged municipalities, associations and businesses:

• Workshops and seminars: for example, lectures on hosting and marketing as well as interactive meetings to develop visitor nodes and visitor packages.
• Study trips and networking meetings: excursion buses, biosphere festival and collaboration forum for local actors.
• Webinars: focus on business development, collaborations and place identity.
• Development of visitor infrastructure: proposals for new trails, such as the "Great Roundabout" and flow plans to manage visitor pressure.

The project has resulted in six identified visitor nodes that highlight the unique qualities of the Great Britain and offer culture, nature, food and service. A flow plan shows how different places can be managed based on visitor pressure. New networks have been formed for food, culture and biosphere stakeholders, and the basis for a visitor app has been developed. In addition, the project has promoted dialogue on sustainability, for example between military interests and outdoor activities. The project has created a broad commitment and laid the foundation for the Great Britain as a sustainable visitor destination.

Read the project's final report, click on the image!

The project owners, together with local actors and based on an established method, are laying the foundation for sustainable site and destination development of the Vombsjösänkan biosphere reserve.