Swedish Press Sample September 2020 Vol 91:07

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September 2020 Vol 91:07 $5.95

Allemansrätten – The Freedom to Roam in Sweden

07 2020

COVID-19 Update Interview with Renata Chlumska Surströmming

The World’s Largest Bed & Breakfast: Sweden and the Freedom to Roam

By Marcus Andersson

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hree years ago, Sweden’s board of tourism partnered with Airbnb, the popular home rental website, to turn the entire country into a listing. The partnership produced a video advert, in which a narrator speaks over footage of the wild Scandinavian landscape, stating that “in Sweden we have this thing called Freedom to Roam. It is a right protected by law that allows me to sleep and eat and walk pretty much anywhere I want. And now, you can too. Because we listed the entire country on Airbnb.” For those unfamiliar with the law described in the video, it sounds like a marketing gimmick. But freedom to roam is a rough translation of allemansrätten, which literally means “every man’s right.” It is a pillar of Swedish culture and another example of Swedish exceptionalism.

In its essence, the freedom to roam makes private property semi-public by giving any person on Swedish soil the right to travel almost completely freely across the

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land. One is not permitted to wander into the immediate vicinity of a household or damage cultivated enclosures, but all wilderness is open to anyone who comes across it. What’s more, allemansrätten grants a list of rights in addition to free access. Under the law, one is allowed to pitch a tent and camp for a couple of days; make a campfire, collect flowers, mushrooms and berries; catch fish in the major bodies of water; access any beach; swim in lakes; and drive on private roads, regardless of whether the area is public or owned by a property holder. This privilege is extended to citizens and tourists alike, and is guided by the maxim inte störa, inte förstöra, or “don’t disturb, don’t destroy.”

The history of the freedom to roam dates back to the medieval period.

In the 1200s, Sweden didn’t have the infrastructure to provide proper food and lodging for travelers, so it was generally accepted that, even on private property, travelers could set up camp, feed themselves off the

land or water sources, etc. From the mid-19th century until the 1940s, this ancient tradition was given even more explicit shape in conjunction with the rise of friluftsliv, a movement that celebrated the importance of spending time outdoors. By 1937, Sweden developed a formal articulation of allemansrätten, but it took until 1994 for it to be codified in the constitution as a foundational right.

Throughout Swedish history there have been debates at the Riksdag (Parliament), with cases spanning from 1889 until 2010, where opponents of the practice have tried to regulate it.

Interestingly, the freedom to roam is a constitutional right but lacks a robust legal definition outlining exactly what is and isn’t acceptable. There are minor restrictions, but even those are only loosely described. The principal regulation on allemansrätten is the idea of hemfridszon or the “home peace zone.” Travelers are not allowed to camp within an uncomfortably close proximity to a

household, and are asked to respect the owner’s zone of peace (often set at around 230 feet from the house). But Swedish law encourages individuals to gauge the appropriate distance themselves: if there’s a fence around the home, then anywhere outside the fence is reasonable. Natural boundaries that separate a traveler’s campsite from the home are also useful, such as streams, hedges, and boulders. On the west coast of Sweden, however, houses are often built close to each other. This leads to a shrinkage of the hemfridszon, meaning that, even if a property owner feels a camper has come too close for comfort, it is difficult to determine whose side the law defends.

Since the freedom to roam is vague from a legal perspective, it is not surprising that it is challenging to police it. Naturvårdsverket, or the Environmental Protection Agency, is primarily responsible for disseminating information about how to take advantage of the freedom in a responsible way, offering online materials and contributing to the school system’s curriculum.

NGOs also play an important part in sustaining the tradition through education and coordinating activities in Nature. Groups like Svenskt Friluftsliv, Friluftsfrämjandet and Korpen all ensure that future generations of Swedes will adhere to the philosophy of “don’t destroy, don’t disturb.”

Swedish children using the right of public access (Allemansrätten) to play in the woods.

Photo: Ulf Lundin/imagebank.sweden.se

While Sweden has one of the most impressive legacies of allemansrätten, it is not the only nation to offer such an entitlement to its people. Finland has a similar history of freedom to roam, which dates back at least six hundred years. Norway passed legislation granting the right to free access sixty years ago with its Friluftsloven (outdoor laws). Denmark grants a limited version of these rights, ensuring some access to nature and strongly protected access to beaches. Iceland and Estonia also guarantee some level of freedom, and Scotland passed a law within the last decade granting similar rights to allemansrätten.

Even though the idealism of freedom to roam is well intentioned, it inevitably leads to dilemmas. One such problem is tourists’ exploitation of the law, which is actively encouraged by the

aforementioned Visit Sweden/Airbnb ad campaign. Social media enable tourists to sensationalize locations in the Swedish landscape, driving high volumes of traffic through delicate ecosystems. This presents a hazard to property investment on behalf of the landowner and a sustainability issue from an environmental perspective.

Another complication with allemansrätten is berry picking for profit, as harvesters have established camp sites on private property for durations that exceed the recommended couple of days. Furthermore, companies that offer horseback tours and similar ventures use private property to generate profit, since riding horses is also protected by the freedom to roam.

Finally, landowners constantly have to monitor what qualifies as hemfridszon, since not all travelers follow the “don’t destroy, don’t disturb” maxim.

Even though allemansrätten creates issues by keeping Swedish land semipublic, many Swedes want to protect its legacy for future generations.

Compared to the US, where trespassing on private property can potentially be life-threatening, Sweden’s policies seem almost utopian. 21st-century Sweden, however, has a growing population and steady streams of tourists it needs to address if allemansrätten is to continue to flourish.

The 100-kilometre Pilgrim trail in the province of Dalsland. Photo Credits: Roger Borgelid/ Westsweden.com

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Swedish Press | September 2020 13

One of the biggest adventures is ...

Global

Renata Chlumska – adventurer and mountain climber par excellence

Renata Chlumska. Photo: Fredrik Blomqvist

Renata Chlumska is an adventurer and mountain climber. Born to Czech parents, she has both Swedish and Czech citizenship. In 1999, she became the first Swedish and Czech woman to climb Mount Everest.

During 2005 and 2006 she paddled a kayak from Seattle to San Diego, bicycled with the kayak on a carriage from San Diego to Brownsville, Texas, continued kayaking around Florida to Eastport, Maine, and then bicycled back to Seattle. She was the first person to circumnavigate 32 states by bicycle and kayak. In the following interview we explore how she acquired her taste for adventure and where it is taking her next.

When and how did you discover that you were an adventure athlete at heart?

I think I have always been an adventurer. It depends of course on how you define “adventure”, but for me

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it means that you don’t know how it is going to end. Life is one big adventure. I have always been very curious, wanting to know what is around the corner. I have had a very active life, trying out different sports – bicycling, horseback-riding, diving, hang-gliding, martial arts, badminton – you name it. I prefer outdoor sports, and not necessarily competing. One thing I like about adventure is that it is not a competition, because you can’t win against Nature, mountains, oceans. It is more about discovering who you are and maximizing your potential, finding your inner strength which I believe we all have, and measuring it against Nature instead of against other people.

One thing is doing sports out of interest, and another to have it as a profession. For me, that changed when I had an opportunity to go with a Swedish expedition to Mount Everest – not to climb, but as a base camp manager in 1996. This is when I realized that mountainclimbing is what I would like to do, and to pursue it with the passion of a profession.

Why risk your life challenging Nature through mountain-climbing and kayak-paddling in all kinds of weather?

This is a question I get frequently.

We know that we only have one life, and for me it is important to

maximize it.

When I undertake my expeditions – whether it is climbing, kayaking, or bicycling like I did from Nepal to Sweden in 1996 – you expose yourself to Nature and different cultures and people and wildlife. But when I go on an expedition I am very much prepared. I talk to different experts in the areas to gain as much knowledge as possible and understand what I will be facing. I am prepared mentally and physically.

Many times during a set time frame we go on with our everyday lives as if nothing is going to happen, and that is when unexpected things occur. Even if I take a higher risk, it is for a limited period of time, and I will have done everything I can to minimize the risks involved.

During a TED Talk you stated that adventure travel allows you to get to know many people and, more importantly, yourself. Please elaborate.

I do a lot of motivational talks. One of the most common questions I get is “aren’t you afraid of being alone, and how do you cope with the loneliness?” For instance, when I did my round-America venture I spent a lot of time by myself paddling in a kayak. Those questions say a lot more about the people who ask them than about me. People are afraid to face themselves. Nowadays

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Putting Sweden on the Map Abroad

Swedes

it is so much easier to hide from oneself by bringing a smartphone which inundates you with so much information that disturb your thoughts. People lose track of themselves, failing to calibrate their compass, leaving no time to reflect and see if they are heading in the right direction. Then they wake up one day to find themselves completely off course.

Having climbed many of the world’s most iconic mountains, you are now setting your sights on space. You are also an advocate for space tourism.

What are your plans?

I think everything that has to do with space is fascinating. For me, that is the final frontier. The ultimate adventure is to look at our planet from the outside. It is a life-changing view, according to astronauts I have talked to, and something I really want to experience myself. It is one thing reading about it, and another to do it oneself. I really believe that the advent of commercial space corporations and cooperation will revolutionize how we travel. We need to find alternative and more efficient ways to transport ourselves.

People will not stop travelling, but we have to do it in a smarter and more sustainable way. Space, with all the new technologies that are being developed, will change how

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... being a parent we fly. I am glad to be part of it at such an early stage.

I have already signed up for a flight into space on Virgin Galactic.

I bought my ticket ten years ago, so I have been waiting a long time.

I am passenger number 192 in the waiting line. Virgin Galactic represents new technology that pushes the boundary forward. The technology also has to be safe, of course, and that takes time.

One day I would like to go to the Moon. I want to climb the highest mountain there is on the Moon! It is just a matter of time when someone will do it. For the human race it is a natural evolution to aim for the Moon and Mars.

How do you finance your expeditions?

Fortunately, I have over the years developed a relationship with various sponsors. That is partly how I finance my expeditions. I also do my speeches, my motivational and inspirational talks, both in Sweden and abroad. In some cases I have believed in my projects so much that I have succeeded in taking a bank loan – like when I purchased my tickets for the ride into space onboard Virgin Galactic. For me, my expeditions are an investment, and it is up to me how that investment will turn out. So far, they have turned out well.

Given your cosmopolitan background, in which areas do you feel Sweden contributes most globally?

I have always been very proud of

what Sweden accomplishes when it comes to technical development, science, R&D, medicine, digitalization – but also in the fields of music and art. Then there is our awareness of the environment. One person cannot change everything; we have to come together to meet the challenges. One manifestation of our environmental awareness is the Allemansrätten, the freedom to roam on private property – an amazing privilege which I value very much, and which also comes with a set of responsibilities.

What lies ahead in your adventure calendar?

You don’t think space is enough??

I don’t know how I can top that. I still do a lot of guiding, although that has been somewhat curtailed recently due to the pandemic. If all goes well, I am guiding a group to climb Sweden’s highest mountain, Kebnekaise, in August. Next year I have at least one trip to Mount Kilimanjaro. I was there last year with a group of climbers. I might have a trip to Everest Camp, and might also do a bit of paddling not far from Jönköping where I live nowadays.

I have three children – two sons aged 11 and 10, and a daughter aged 9 – and a lot of my time is devoted to going on adventures with them.

All of them have been with me on Kebnekaise. For the rest I look forward to staying at home, because one of the biggest adventures is being a parent.

Interviewed by Peter Berlin

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Hemma hos

The Perspective of Hans Strand – Landscape Photographer

By Kristi Robinson

Above: The streams of silt and iron oxide flow into surreal turquoise water in the River Delta.

Bottom right: An aerial photograph of the River Delta in Iceland.

T

he abstractness and colors of his images take you to a place of awe and incredulity. From up to four hundred meters in the air, photographer Hans Strand captures aerial shots of landscapes with his Hasselblad camera that defy our understanding of scale, and our common perception of what the world looks like at ground level. Sitting in a small plane or helicopter, he photographs chromatic rivers, icy mountain ranges and glacial waterfalls. Yet his images taken at ground level are equally captivating, showing nature’s raw splendour. Even though he is a master in aerial photography, Hans says his favorite thing to photograph is the forest, and he feels this is where

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[Design]

his connection to nature is most intense. It doesn’t matter where the forest is, but in Sweden Hans is particularly drawn to the forests in Jämtland.

Hans’ passion for landscape photography was ignited during a trip to Yosemite National Park when he was a student at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. He explained that when looking through the viewfinder he found some kind of magic. Now, almost forty years later, it appears that this magic is still with him and is channeled into his photographs for all to experience.

Much of Hans’ work through the years has been focused on Iceland.

He began going there in 1995 before Iceland became the popular tourist destination it is today. Making a number of trips every year, he photographs and runs photography workshops in locations off the beaten

‘Highland Gully’ captures the sombre mood of the early summer rain in one of Iceland’s highland valleys.

track. His work in Iceland has culminated in two books, ‘Above and Below’, and ‘Island’ (German for ‘Iceland’). Hans has also had a number of other books published, one of which was last year in collaboration with Swedish film producer Bo Landin titled ‘Fotavtryck” (‘Footprints’). ‘Fotavtryck’ is about the environmental footprint we are all making and discusses the obstacles we have to overcome to make the world sustainable.

Hemma hos

All through his years of aerial photography, Hans has tried to avoid manmade elements and only capture natural environments. After witnessing what was happening to the ground below – the destruction of plants and animals and manipulation of the wilderness into manmade land – it became virtually impossible for him to ignore it. In 2017, he began a project photographing the Rio Tinto River draining from the mine of the same name in Andalusia, Spain. His shocking and oddly stunning aerial images show toxic water making its way through the landscape, polluting everything in its path before draining into the Atlantic Ocean.

Hans has also started working on a manmade land project in Spain where he photographs areas that were once so biodiverse. These have either been taken over by monocultural farming, or have become densely built up, as in Almería where the city’s peninsula has been transformed into hundreds of square miles of plastic greenhouses.

Hans’ manmade project will be turned into a book, and an exhibition in Spain in 2021. Once travel becomes a possibility Hans plans to run photography workshops in Iceland, Greenland, Sweden, Norway, and the Alps. To see more of Hans’ stunning landscape photography visit www.hansstrand.se instagram.com/hansstrandofficial/

Top right: ‘Colors of Poison VII’, the most polluted river in the world, the Rio Tinto, displays its toxicity in a rainbow of colors.

Bottom right: ‘Highland Colors’. An aerial shot of the Icelandic Highlands in the early summer.

All photos © Hans Strand

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