Swedish Society for Nature Conservation

The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (Swedish: Naturskyddsföreningen, previously known as Svenska Naturskyddsföreningen, SNF) is a non-profit, non-partisan, Swedish environmental organization.[1] It is the largest and oldest environmental society in Sweden, with 24 county branches and 270 municipality subdivisions.[2] In 2019, it had 230,000 members.[3]

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation
Naturskyddsföreningen
AbbreviationSSNC
Formation1909 (1909)
FounderMultiple founders
Legal statusActive
PurposeCreating awareness and project for environmental protection
Location
  • Sweden
Membership (2019)
230,000
General secretary
Karin Lexén
Chairman
Johanna Sandahl
SubsidiariesNature and Youth Sweden
Budget (2012)
SEK 192.4 million
Websitewww.naturskyddsforeningen.se
Formerly called
Svenska Naturskyddsföreningen

History

The society was formed in 1909, by a number of professors and academics interested in natural history and environmental issues.[4] One of the founders was botanist Rutger Sernander, who had a prominent position in the society until his death in 1944.[5] Writer Sten Selander was chairman of the society for many years. Mikael Karlsson was chairman in 2002–2014, succeeded by Johanna Sandahl who had been vice chairman.[6]

During the first decades, the society mainly worked with protecting selected natural sites and endangered species. It also published a journal, Sveriges natur ("Swedish nature"). As new environmental problems developed, the work of the society has changed. The organization was instrumental in establishing large parts of modern environmental legislation in Sweden, as well as forming government agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency.[5]

Function
Former General Secretary Svante Axelsson and board member Carolina Klüft during the Swedish election campaign in September 2014.

The Society for Nature Conservation works strengthening public awareness for environmental issues, experiencing nature and love for nature,[lower-alpha 1] as well as influencing political decisions and interact with other international organizations.[7] The society cooperates with other environmental organizations within the European Union and it is also twinning with organizations in the Far East, Africa and South America with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).[8]

The organization manages the Alvin Fund jointly with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Ornithological Society. The fund contributes to projects involved in nature protection, primarily bird protection.[9][10]

A significant part of the society's work is to, through consumers, influence manufacturers and commerce to take a more active responsibility for the environment. The organization initiated the annual Miljövänliga veckan ("Eco-friendly Week") in 1990,[11] and the ecolabels Bra Miljöval[12] ("Good Eco-choice") and Naturens Bästa ("Nature's Best").[13]

Symbol

The symbol for the Society for Nature Conservation is a peregrine falcon, one of the species strongly affected by pollution. The society has helped save the peregrine in Sweden by contributing to breeding programs and surveillance of nests and habitats.[14][15]

Fältbiologerna
Main article: Nature and Youth Sweden

The Nature and Youth Sweden (Fältbiologerna lit. Field Biologists) is an independent youth organization formed in 1947 for youth interested in nature studies and environmental protection, under the aegis of the Society for Nature Conservation.[16] The Field Biologists have a mixed range of activities, ranging from birdwatching and lichen classes to environmental campaigns, climate and fairness actions, and forest inventory. A significant aspect of the organization is that the members themselves select and organize the activities.

Notes
  1. The Swedish expressions naturkänslan ("experiencing nature") and kärleken till naturen ("love for nature") are Swedish cultural aspects that are almost impossible to translate into other languages.
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References
  1. "Årsredovisning" [Annual Report] (PDF). www.naturskyddsforeningen.se. Naturskyddsföreningen. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  2. "Sveriges största miljöorganisation" [Sweden's largest environmental organization] (PDF). www.lansstyrelsen.se. County administrative boards of Sweden. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  3. "About us". www.naturskyddsforeningen.se. Naturskyddsföreningen. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  4. "Nu firar vi 100 år hela året" [Now we are celebrating a 100 year the whole year]. www.naturskyddsforeningen.se. Naturskyddsföreningen. 10 June 2009. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  5. Jonsell, Bengt (2003–2006). "J Rutger Sernander". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). 32. Stockholm: National Archives of Sweden. p. 65. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  6. "Naturskyddsföreningens riksstyrelse och revisorer" [Swedish Society for Nature Conservation board members and accountants]. www.naturskyddsforeningen.se. Naturskyddsforeningen. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  7. "Vi arbetar för att rädda jordens liv!" [We work to save earth's live!]. www.naturskyddsforeningen.se. Naturskyddsforeningen. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  8. "Globalt arbete" [Global work]. www.naturskyddsforeningen.se. Naturskyddsforeningen. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  9. "Stiftelsen Alvins fond för fågelskydd" [The Alvin Fund Fountation for bird protection]. www.naturvardsverket.se. Environmental Protection Agency (Sweden). Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  10. "Bidrag" [Contributions]. www.naturvardsverket.se. Environmental Protection Agency (Sweden). Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  11. Dalanytt. "Miljövänliga veckan fokuserar på ekologiska varor" [Eco-friendly week focus on ecological goods]. www.sverigesradio.se. Sveriges Radio. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  12. "Vad betyder märkningen?" [What does the label mean?] (PDF). www.konsumentforeningenstockholm.se. Konsumentföreningen Stockholm. 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  13. "Ett framgångsrikt märke - som många har bidragit till" [A successful label - which many have contributed to]. www.naturensbasta.se. Naturens Bästa. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  14. TT (26 July 2010). "Riktiga falkar häckar i Falkenberg" [Real peregrins nest in Falkenberg]. www.dn.se. Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  15. Nilsson, Kent; Lindberg, Peter. "Projekt Pilgrimsfalk" [Project Peregrin]. www.nilssonssida.se. Projekt Pilgrimsfalk. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  16. "Fältbiologerna" [Nature and Youth Sweden]. Nationalencyklopedin. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
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