Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve Activities 2020 Vattenriket i fokus 2021:01 | Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Office 2021 | ISSN 1653-9338 KRISTIANSTADS VATTENRIKE BIOSPHERE RESERVE – ACTIVITIES 2020 Kristianstads Vattenrike is a Unesco-designated biosphere reserve that serves as a model area for sustainable development. There are some 700 biosphere reserves worldwide, seven of which are in Sweden. Illustion: Carina Lindkvist Naturcentrum AB Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve Kristianstads Vattenrike Such variety creates numerous natural climate change. Biosphere Reserve habitats and the species-rich reserve, less Enabling people to experience nature than two tenths of one percent of the area inspires them to help conserve it. The (Vattenriket) occupies of Sweden, is a refuge for some 20% of biosphere reserve has some 20 visitor most of the municipality of the nation’s red-listed species. sites with observation towers, marked Kristianstad. This rich cultural Kristianstad Municipality is committed to trails and outdoor museums. The jewel making the biosphere reserve a model area in our crown is the naturum visitor landscape is endowed with for sustainable development. centre with exhibitions, meeting rooms, almost every type of natural Producing and sharing knowledge about a restaurant and a wide programme habitat to be found in Sweden. the landscape and nature is crucial for an of activities. Here we explain how the ecologically, economically and socially biosphere reserve works and encourage sustainable society, so we make inventories, visitors to explore the area for The majestic River Helge å is a publish reports, work with researchers, themselves. central feature. Fed by streams from host conferences and welcome some Results have been positive. At the Pulken the ridges and plains, it flows into 100,000 visitors a year to the naturum visitor site migrating cranes, visitors Lakes Araslövssjön and Hammarsjön visitor centre. and farmers co-exist in harmony. Cat- before reaching the sea in Hanöbuk- We collaborate with local associations, fish have been successfully reintroduced ten Bay. The river is fringed by companies and landowners to use and into the river and otters fish close to wetlands and seasonally flooded conserve natural values. We create wetlands the naturum. Thanks to a new-found grasslands, but there are also leafy and restore sandy grasslands. Species respect for natural values, the wetlands forests and dry sandy arable lands diversity and efficient ecosystems help are no longer seen as a problem, but as within the reserve. us to cope better with challenges such as a valuable resource for Kristianstad. 2 KRISTIANSTADS VATTENRIKE BIOSPHERE RESERVE – ACTIVITIES 2020 KRISTIANSTADS VATTENRIKE BIOSPHERE RESERVE – ACTIVITIES 2020 2020 – The year in review The pandemic cast a long shadow over careful preparations we now look forward A new Biosphere Reserve action plan has 2020. We have had to learn to stay an to planting eel grass, creating pedagogic been produced for 2021–2025, with five eagle’s wingspan away from our fellow tools and learning more about the fragile focus areas and a clear emphasis on con- humans, but as the great outdoors have habitats of Baltic Sea life forms. tributing to the global SDGs of Agenda become more important than ever as a 2030 by finding local solutions to global place to meet family and friends, we have Future Week saw a much appreciated challenges. striven to adapt rather than cancel clean-up in Vattenriket with help from Vattenriket activities. Digital solutions, many of the societies that support bio- I look forward with confidence to 2021, like a virtual version of our annual Bio- sphere reserve work. Communication which has been proclaimed Outdoor sphere Research Conference, have been materials were produced and boxes filled Recreation Year. What could be better in a success. We have produced a new film with free litter bags were set up. times when ‘it’s in to be out’? Welcome to about Vattenriket with Infab Kommunika- Vattenriket. tion and are proud of our ‘Rising Star of In the autumn naturum celebrated its the Year’ award received at the Guldjubel birthday after ten fantastic years of business community gala. fascinating encounters, shared knowledge and passionate engagement. A new app Work on our ‘Explore Vattenriket’ theme was released and we launched the ‘I love continues. The first stretch of the SL6 sub- Vattenriket’ campaign with the Friends of trail of the Skåneleden trail was opened Vattenriket that enables residents, visitors in glorious weather on 22 May, Biodiver- and companies to show their appreciation sity Day and the anniversary of the city’s for Vattenriket for a very modest cost. founding in 1614. Many people have already walked the trail, and our nature Despite the pandemic, much has been as interpreters have been out and about to usual. New wetlands have been created show visitors other fascinating Vattenriket to improve water quality and retain more destinations. We have also produced new water in the ground, and results are being information, including a ‘Fishing in evaluated by Lund University to see how Vattenriket’ map, to make exploring easier. we can develop our work. Trees and Carina Wettemark shrubs have been cleared at Näsby fält in Coordinator, Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Together with WWF, the Stockholm and the interests of both visitors and bio- Reserve Manager, Department for Biosphere Activities, Municipal Executive Office, Västernorrland County Administrative diversity. In many places the sand has Kristianstad Municipality Boards and the Swedish Anglers’ Associ- been disturbed to help pollinators, and ation we have received funds to help re- flowering strips have been sown in fields store the ailing Baltic Sea to health. After as part of the ‘Let Skåne Blossom’ project. Mural celebrates Vattenriket and sustainability A kingfisher was among the motifs when artist Lula Goce created Kristianstad’s first house wall mural. 3 KRISTIANSTADS VATTENRIKE BIOSPHERE RESERVE – ACTIVITIES 2020 10th anniversary of naturum Vattenriket Since it opened on 27 November 2010 the naturum Vattenriket has welcomed over a million visitors to its displays and activities. The 10th jubilee was celebrated with an exciting new augmented reality animal app, live broadcast speeches and a light show on the exterior of the building. The idea of a visitor centre first evolved in who come to experience and enjoy ‘their’ couraging them to discover the area’s natu- the late 1980s, but the decision to build a Vattenrike. ral values, our long-term aim is to mobilise naturum was not taken until 2005, when support for more sustainable development Kristianstads Vattenrike became a biosphere Rich in many ways – from an iconic building and a fantastic reserve. Today the naturum Vattenriket is For Vattenriket the past decade has been site in the heart of the city, at the heart of unique among the 30 or so in Sweden in rich in species, knowledge, ideas, experi- the wetlands. serving as the gateway to a biosphere ences, fun – and water! There have been reserve. numerous highlights, not least when the Corona-safe celebrations city hosted a competition to select Swe- Although the pandemic ruled out a big Success was a fact from day one. By the den’s entry for the 2018 Eurovision Song birthday party, the naturum still handed out end of its first year the naturum Vattenriket Contest. The kingfisher on the naturum three presents on its tenth birthday. A new was already Sweden’s most popular. It has signpost donned a glitter hat in honour of free app, Silurus, introduces Vattenriket’s topped the visitors’ league ever since, the occasion, and Vattenriket’s own favour- characteristic species. Speeches were broad- welcoming visitors from more than 100 ite singer was chosen – the skylark! cast live from the naturum on Vattenriket’s countries – from prime ministers and roy- Facebook page. And as darkness fell, the alty, celebrated centenarians and new-born Work continues non-stop to inspire interest building was illuminated like a beating blue- babies to the many Kristianstad residents in nature. By welcoming visitors and en- green heart in the midst of the wetlands. 4 Photo: Patrik Olofsson/N KRISTIANSTADS VATTENRIKE BIOSPHERE RESERVE – ACTIVITIES 2020 KRISTIANSTADS VATTENRIKE BIOSPHERE RESERVE – ACTIVITIES 2020 The display on the bridge. The past 10 years have been rich in many ways – rich in species, The Silurus app. Augmented reality brings knowledge, ideas, experiences, fun and water! some Vattenriket stars to life in your mobile. 10th anniversary Due to circumstances beyond our control celebrations will be held in private. The naturum lit up the darkness with a pulsa- For our next jubilee we hope to invite Naturum Vattenriket ting heartbeat of blue and green lights. Kristianstad residents to a proper party! Kristianstad virtually New high-profile campaign To celebrate the jubilee, the ‘I love Vattenriket’ campaign was launched in collaboration with Friends of Vattenriket. The campaign enables Kristianstad resi- dents, visitors and companies to demon- strate their commitment to the aims of the biosphere reserve. ‘I love Vattenriket’ makes membership in and sponsorship of Friends of Vattenriket attractive and helps the association collect money to support biosphere reserve activ- TIAN STAD BIOS PHER ities. E RES ERVE Campaign profile products – T-shirts, babies’ bodysuits, umbrellas, etc. – are on sale at naturum, and corporate sponsors can use the slogan in their marketing. 5 KRISTIANSTADS VATTENRIKE BIOSPHERE RESERVE – ACTIVITIES 2020 First section of the Skåneleden trail SL6 Vattenriket opens Leafy forests, cool waters, undulating fields and endless sandy beaches. The first stretch of the Skåneleden trail SL6 Vattenriket, inaugurated on 22 Live-broadcast inauguration May passes through Vattenriket’s fantastically rich and diverse nature. A resident’s initiative to create a Vattenriket trail sparked the idea of a hiking trail from Bökestad in the north to Drakamöllan, 150 kilometres to the south. The SL6 trail is the perfect complement to our ‘Explore Vatten- riket’ theme.