Robertsfors, Vasterbotten County

Robertsfors a former iron mining and manufacturing center, is a community of 7,200 residents located in Vasterbotten County, approximately a two hour drive from Stockholm.  Has the distinction of being Sweden’s pilot municipality for sustainability. In 2001, The Vasterbotten County Administrative Board and County Council together with Robertsfors Municipality invested and received funding from the European Union through the project Sustainable Robertsfors to spearhead work to achieve sustainable development.

 The goal is for local authorities and communities to adopt the model work done here, several villages cooperating to develop their home region together, and to learn from and be inspired by the development work being accomplished.

In the Village of Akullsjon, undergrowth has been cleared to open up pasture for livestock and to save threatened species.  Salmon ladders have been built in the Ricklean Stream to assist in upstream migration and spawning.

Citizens are also engaging in entrepreneurship and are Assuming leadership in setting new examples for competence support, marketing and environmental management systems.

Young people in the municipality have set up organizational forums, teachers are being trained with new sustainable development curricula, and many eco-farmers are setting good examples of sustainable enterprise. These serve as examples of strengthen social networks joint commitment and participation.