Stockholm

The County Administrative Board of Stockholm represents the Stockholm region. Although the County of Stockholm covers less than 2 % of Sweden´s surface, a wide range of conditions are found within its boundaries, spanning from the intense metropolitan centre to sparsely populated countryside and archipelago. Unspoilt nature is never far away.

The urban perimeter links to a living countryside with 1800 farm units within the county. It is important to manage remaining areas of farmland in ways that permit both food production and rich biodiversity and provides opportunities for recreation and contact with nature for people living in and around the city. The region needs to accommodate a growing city, and find a balance between open landscape and nature and the needs of a growing population. We also need to maintain the green infrastructure and biodiversity, especially in the peri-urban areas.

The county of Stockholm has more than 200 nature reserves, two national parks and Sweden´s only national city park.

Winter in Stockholm

Winter in Stockholm. Photo: Monica Burell


One of the future challenges for the region lays in the competition of land use, which has resulted in high prices for land and estates and difficulties to expand. As in many other countries we also have a high average age among our farmers. To have a living countryside we need to develop a more diverse business sector in the rural areas as a complement to agriculture. The landscape is also a resource for public health and quality of life.

We see a possibility to exchange experience regarding all these peri urban questions through the PURPLE network. One question of particular interest is how to maintain and develop landscape values including cultural heritage and biodiversity.

General data:

Country: Sweden
Total area: 650.000
Population: 1.8 million
Density: 285
Agriculture land use: 17 %
Arable land: 76 %
Main economic activities:
Main agricultural products: Milk, Wheat and Beef
Last updated: 28 Apr 2009