Managing a river for people and nature – Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka Biosphere Reserve

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The fifth episode of Steps for Nature is out! In this episode, we speak with Daniel from the Vindel River Fishery Advisory Board (FAB) and Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka Biosphere Reserve Board about river restoration, fisheries, and the balance between ecological restoration, local livelihoods, and Sámi traditions. The conversation explores how different stakeholders are brought together within the biosphere reserve and why local perspectives are central to restoration work.

Stretching almost 500 kilometers from mountains through vast forest landscapes to the coast, the Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka Biosphere Reserve is Sweden’s largest biosphere reserve. Here, ecological values, local livelihoods, and cultural traditions are closely interconnected, and activities in the area include forestry, mining, and reindeer husbandry.

“From my perspective, it has always been really important to actually meet the people that are involved in their own arena. You meet them in their own arena so that they are comfortable and can actually speak out what they want. […] And it’s much easier afterwards also when you actually do the work because you’ll feel much more comfortable with what you’re doing—you know there’s limited possibilities that someone gets sad or misunderstood afterwards.” – Daniel Holmqvist

Designated as a UNESCO site in 2019, the biosphere reserve is a model area for sustainable development, where local solutions to global challenges are developed in collaboration with people and organisations along the entire river valley. Within the reserve, different stakeholder groups work together to manage and protect the river system, including representatives from fisheries, local communities, and Sámi traditions.

Learn more:

Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka Biosphere Reserve
Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka | UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)