Last updated: March 2025
This project aims to increase water retention capacity in the landscape around urban areas and promote biodiversity by restoring wetlands and natural streams in the forested areas on the island of Hisingen in northern Gothenburg. Many wetlands and streams in the area have been drained or otherwise affected by human activity, reducing biodiversity, increasing the risk of floods and droughts and causing greenhouse gas emissions from peatland. The goals of the project are to reduce the risk of floods downstream, reduce the effects of dry periods, increase groundwater infiltration and benefit species living in and around wetlands and streams in the forest [Ref. 1-3]. The Swedish Anglers Association has initiated the project in cooperation with the City of Gothenburg and the environmental engineering company Miljöteknik I Väst AB [Ref 1]. The project's first stage is a continuation of an earlier project to make an inventory of wetlands and their status [Ref 1, 2]. For the second part, 6,9 ha of wetlands and streams on land owned by the city were restored [Ref. 1, 3]. The project will lead to further efforts in wetland restoration around Gothenburg [Ref. 2, 4].
One of the wetlands being restored in the project
https://lona.naturvardsverket.se/Project/View/7955
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Water security
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- River flooding
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Drought
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Physical water retention and availability
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Restoration of peatlands, Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems), Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Habitat mapping, restoration and monitoring-focused management
Project objectives
- To increase the water retention capacity around Gothenburg, thereby reducing risks of floods downstream, the effects of droughts, and increasing groundwater infiltration.
- Restore natural habitats in wetlands and streams, promoting biodiversity.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from peatland decomposition
- Gain knowledge about wetlands in the area for future projects by performing inventories
[Ref. 1-3]
Implementation activities
1. In 2019, the Swedish Anglers Association carried out an inventory of drained wetlands, setting the stage for the current project [Ref. 1].
2. The Swedish Anglers Association cooperated with the City of Gothenburg to start the current project and apply for funding from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency [Ref. 1].
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore mangroves, marshes, reefs and wetlands to dissipate the effects of storms and floodwaters
- Restore rivers and other fresh water bodies to reduce flood or drought risk
Climate change mitigation:
- Protect and restore in-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors aiming at sequestering carbon dioxide and storing it in their soil
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore ecological connectivity
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The Swedish Anglers Association initated and runs the project together with the city of Gothenburg. The inventories were carried out by the association and the company Miljöteknik i Väst AB. Miljöteknik i Väst seems to be the lead actor in the restoration of wetlands and streams, which happens on land owned by the City of Gothenburg. The University of Gothenburg are involved in evaluating the effects of the project and has organised study visits for their students. It is stated that the local branch of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation is involved in the project, but their role is not specified apart from being a co-financer [Ref. 1-3]. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is involved in funding and evaluating the project.
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation, Collaboration with other projects that implemented NBS, Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
€100,000 - €500,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public national budget
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Reduced emissions
- Achieved reduced emissions
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Expected increased protection against flooding
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Achieved enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased number of species present
- Expected increased number of species present
- Increased presence and recovery of wild species
- Expected increased presence and recovery of wild species
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Achieved increased support for education and scientific research
- Safety
- Improved community safety to climate-related hazards
- Expected improved community safety to climate-related hazards
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.). Vattenhållande åtgärder i Göteborg, slutrapport. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Sportfiskarna (n.d.). Slutrapport ”Vattenhållande åtgärder i Göteborg” (501-15481-2021) – åtgärd 1.;
3.
Calderon, D., & Sandberg, S. (n.d.). Rapport LONA-våtmark på Hisingen del 1. Miljöteknik i Väst,;
4.
Sportfiskarna (2023). 25 våtmarker med berörda vattensystem i Göteborg och angränsande kommuner kommer snart må bättre. Sportfiskarna har precis delgivits positivt beslut från Länsstyrelsen.. Accessed on September 25, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning (n.d.). Segregationsbarometern: Göteborg. Accessed on September 25, 2024, [Source link];
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.