First national parks in Sweden

The creation of the world’s first national park in Yellowstone in 1872, along with a growing recognition of the need for nature protection, triggered a conservation movement that spread from North America to Europe during the last part of the nineteenth century. In Sweden, the reknowned explorer and conservationist Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld was among the first to propose the creation of national parks to protect Sweden’s pristine nature. Together with other supporters, Nordenskiöld was able to convince the Swedish botanist and member of parliament Karl Starbäck to introduce a proposition for the creation of several parks to the Swedish parliament (Riksdag). His proposal was accepted in May 1909. This first Swedish conservation act established nine national parks, making Sweden the first country in Europe to establish a system of national parks.