The Case of Gothenburg
The functional urban area (FUA) of the Case Study in Gothenburg
The Gothenburg Functional Urban Area (FUA) encompasses 14 municipalities, with nine falling entirely within the FUA boundary. It stretches from the western Swedish coastline to more rural interior landscapes and includes the City of Gothenburg (Göteborg in Swedish), Sweden’s second largest city with a population of around 600,000 people. Today, the City of Gothenburg faces social, economic and environmental challenges, including issues of segregation. The wider FUA is also affected by segregation issues, albeit not as prominent. Adding to this, the FUA faces a number of climate-related challenges, including increased sporadic rainfall in storm bursts. These bursts contribute to both flooding and drought. In rural areas, 19th century practices of draining wetlands to expand farmland has left the landscape unable to retain water, leading to evaporation and exacerbating drought conditions. The FUA is also expected to experience increased and prolonged heatwaves, making urban heat island effects a significant concern, particularly for the City of Gothenburg, and sea level rise along the coastline.
In response, actors in the FUA has recognised the benefits of utilising nature in the form of nature-based solutions (NBS) as an effective way to address climate change, biodiversity loss and social justice. However, many NBS initiatives in the FUA are located outside the most socio-economically disadvantaged areas, which may limit their potential to address urban inequalities. Several NBS are also operated and maintained by volunteers, which raises interesting questions about who has the resources, ability, and opportunity to engage in these initiatives.
The Gothenburg region has great values in the coast, sea, forests and lakes, and they are major assets not only for the region's attractiveness but also for ecosystem services, for example. Maintaining this potential requires conscious efforts to protect valuable environments and ensure people's access to the coast, sea, forests and lakes.
Three examples of nature-based solutions in Lisbon
The concept of the Re-Use Park (Återbruksparken in Swedish) was developed by property owner and manager Akademiska Hus (Academic Houses) in 2020 on the grounds of Gothenburg University’s Medicinareberget campus. Construction was led by Akademiska Hus in collaboration with Återbruk Väst (Reuse West) —a project spearheaded by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Chalmersfastigheter (Chalmers Properties), and Business Region Göteborg. The Re-Use Park project explores innovative approaches to repurposing outdoor plants from construction sites on the campus and has been replicated in other Akademiska Hus owned campuses around Sweden. Circularity and the practices of re-use are key to the project’s operations. The Park has received strong support from the Akademiska Hus management over the past few years, in part due to its contribution to the campus’ green spaces and its alignment with the company’s broader sustainability goals. Akademiska Hus argues that the Re-Use Park contributes to reducing their climate impact and simultaneously improves wellbeing for Gothenburg University’s students and staff.
Eco Agroforestry Centre (EAC) Linnarhult was founded by two immigrant led non-profit organisations in Gothenburg in 2016; Planta Panta Tree International (PPTI) and Hope for Sustainable Forest. In 2018, the association was offered to lease 27 hectares of land along the Lärje river in Linnarhult by the City of Gothenburg. The EAC methods are based on the thinking and pedagogy of Kenyan environmental activist Wangari Maathai. The core idea is that conserving the environment will improve livelihoods, with a strong focus on women’s empowerment. The Centre serves as a collaborative learning space where various methodologies are taught. While there is a particular focus on youth education, all people are welcome, fostering a shared commitment to a sustainable future. In addition, EAC has created learning networks with initiatives in African countries, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration. Overall, the EAC’s goal is to reconnect people with nature and create a meeting place to facilitate human connection, especially for those individuals who may feel out of place elsewhere.
The Färjenäs Forest Garden is a 2000sqm initiative established in 2013, after volunteers approached the City of Gothenburg for a site within Färjenäs Park in the suburb of Eriksberg. The Färjenäs Forest Garden Association leases the land for free from the municipality and is responsible for managing and maintaining the Forest Garden. Situated in the heart of the park, without fences or other forms of separation, the Forest Garden is open to the public. Everyone is allowed to enter and pick fruits, berries, nuts and leaves. It also offers opportunities for groups, such as students in agricultural programs, to participate in guided tours and hands-on learning experiences. The garden’s primary purpose is to demonstrate the forest garden concept, incorporating both educational and experimental elements. Today, the garden continues to focus on showcasing the potential of permaculture and forest gardens in Gothenburg, with the goals of cultivating food and enhancing biodiversity and ecological well-being. Since 2012, the municipality has had a strong focus on urban gardening and farming, supporting the association with information and promoting their events through the Stadsnära Odling initiative. The Färjenäs Forest Garden overlaps with the municipality's ongoing vision, outlined in the 2012 policy directive on urban farming, which aims to enhance opportunities for Gothenburg residents to grow their own food, encompassing both hobby gardening and commercial urban farming.
Figure 1: The Re-Use Park at Medicinareberget. Photo source: Lovisa Carli
Figure 2: Willow Wonder Entrance at EAC Linnarhult. Photo source: EAC
Figure 3: View over the Färjenäs Forest Garden. Photo source: Lovisa Carli