Module 3

✓ Deeper understanding of SDG 15 and its importance ✓ Practical examples how Falköping county strategically work for preserving ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, and promoting responsible travel within the framework of SDG 15. ✓ Examples' how the work for community well-being and its implications for municipal decision-making. ✓ Examples how the work with Cross-Department Collaboration is done ✓ How the work for collaboration with tourist companies has been done ✓ Take away message what we could do better and what we need to work more with In this module, you will learn… Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744

Welcome to learn about Falköpings County in Western Sweden—a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Situated by one of northern Europe’s leading bird lakes, this region offers an immersive experience in wildlife and local traditions. Managed by the County Administrative Board, the nature reserve has undergone significant restoration, making it a popular destination for tourists. The annual crane dances alone attract over 100,000 visitors, contributing to the local community's growth and tourism industry development. Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 15, you will go into more depth with examples how Falköpings County works to preserve life on land. Through its recognized efforts, this region serves as an example of sustainable conservation practices combined with cultural appreciation. Join us to see how Falköpings County has implemented success and learn how to implement them in your own context INTRODUCTION Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744 SDG 15, focuses on protecting and restoring the Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. This includes forests, mountains, deserts, and all the incredible plants and animals that call them home. By working towards this goal, we can ensure a healthy planet for ourselves and future generations. The famous lake Hornborgasjön, known for its visiting cranes in spring

Content Slide #1 SDG 15: Life on Land as a Roadmap for your Municipality Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744 SDG 15: Life on Land as a Roadmap: Imagine SDG 15 as a blueprint for sustainable tourism in your municipality. It guides actions to protect the natural wonders that attract visitors and the well being of the local citizens, like forests, wildlife, and landscapes. This ensures these treasures are preserved for future generations and continue to be the foundation of your tourism industry. Why you as a municipality worker should work with SDG 15 A healthy environment is the foundation of tourism. SDG 15 promotes sustainable land management, preserving natural beauty and providing long-term economic benefits for the municipality. Aligning with SDG 15, the municipality commits to protecting the environment and offering visitors a respectful, enriching experience. SDG 15 builds resilience against climate change and environmental degradation, ensuring a healthy environment for residents and visitors. A connected community is invested in protecting their environment. Collaborating with residents on SDG 15 ensures the preservation of natural beauty and fosters responsible tourism, benefiting both residents and visitors.

Content Slide #2 How Falköping County works with SDG 15 Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744 Collaboration is the Key to Sustainable Tourism Since 2015, Falköping County is part of Visit Hornborgasjön a united tourism organizations of Falköping, Skara, and Skövde municipalities, supported by their respective boards. Together with partners like the Västra Götaland County Administrative Board, we develop the Hornborgasjön destination. Success hinges on strong relationships, clear responsibilities, and expertise, aimed at preserving nature and supporting rural life. This effort is crucial for Lake Hornborgasjön's protection and aligns with SDG 15. Through collaboration, we safeguard Hornborgasjön's beauty, promote responsible tourism, and benefit locals and visitors alike, advancing SDG 15. A strategic policy document outlines our collaboration efforts. In the next updated version, it will be stated that we are working towards Sustainable Tourism through Place Development. BUT Collaboration across municipal borders, even with non-traditional tourism stakeholders, is the cornerstone of our success. https://www.vastsverige.com/en/hornborgasjon/

1. Cross-Department Collaboration – a common vision - workshops Content Slide #3 Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744 We work with Place Development not Destination Development • Organize workshops inviting officials from various departments to establish a common understanding of sustainability in tourism and explore collaborative strategies. • The primary methodology we used is back casting - a planning method that starts by defining a desirable future and then works backward to identify policies and programs that will link the specified future to the present. The back casting process occurred through our three workshops. Workshop 1 • Participants outlined features for Falköping County as a sustainable destination, covering ecological, social, and economic factors. We talked about how goals are connected and what to focus on in the future. Place development focuses on a place's unique qualities (community, environment) and its limitations, not just tourist desires. This guides responsible tourism development. Collaboration across municipal borders, even with non-traditional tourism stakeholders, is the cornerstone of our success. This is how we did it.

Content Slide #4 Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744 Workshop 2 Aim Refine goals established in the initial session. • Strategize ways to achieve these goals. Challenges • When the actual meaning and commitment associated with the vision of being a "truly sustainable destination" became apparent that the discussion became stuck. • The clarification of the vision brought insights into the importance of legitimacy (who owns the question) and highlighted a need for resolving knowledge gaps. • Another important finding is that several participants, especially those from the tourism/visitor industry accustomed to more operational work, found the discussions too abstract. This indicates a clear need to concretize visionary, often abstract discussions. 1. Cross-Department Collaboration – a common vision - workshops

Content Slide #5 Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744 Workshop 3 Aim • To illuminate the questions and approaches necessary for progress. Challenges • Need for concreteness in collaboration. • Requirement for readiness and mandate to advance initiatives. • Tendency for discussions to stall on long-standing concrete challenges like sustainable transportation and packaging. • Preference for discussing familiar topics, indicating a need to broaden the conversation. 1. Cross-Department Collaboration – a common vision - workshops

Content Slide #6 After the workshops, concrete efforts have been made to work on achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 targets Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744 1. Code of Conduct for campervans visiting the area 1. After conducting interviews and surveys, we realized that campervan visitors did not exhibit the desired behavior, such as contributing to the local economy, and often did not consider the best practices. We designed a code of conduct and specific tips on what to visit that would support local businesses https://www.vastsverige.com/en/hornborgasjon/campervan/ Help preserve a unique environment As a visitor, you have the privilege of experiencing all of this, but you must also treat the environment with care. By following our code of conduct, you help preserve the unique environment

Content Slide #7 Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744 2. Engaging in dialogue with the local community We attend local association annual meetings to gather feedback from the community about tourism and its potential impact on nature and the daily lives of residents. After the summer season, we will send out an anonymous survey to assess the effects of the visitors. 3. Environmental Policy for the Shop and Café at the National Park • Goal to reduce the usage of single-use disposable items. • Purchase from local suppliers/vendors. • Sustainable souvenirs. • Etc ...

Content Slide #8 Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744 4. Engaging the Local Politicians Four times a year, the tourist manager of Falköping arranges day trips for the leading politician to visit local tour companies. These excursions serve as valuable opportunities for the politician to gain insight into the companies' operations, challenges, and successes. Moreover, they facilitate meaningful discussions on sustainable tourism between the politician and the tourist manager, fostering a shared understanding of the principles and practices of sustainability in tourism. Once a year, we organize a bus tour that invites local tour operators, providing an opportunity for everyone to meet and learn about other businesses in the area. During the tour, we visit and introduce peer companies around Lake Hornborgasjön. Additionally, updated information is provided by the County Administrative Board, which manages the Hornborgasjön Nature Reserve. We also arrange one-on-one Swedish Fika meetings with local tour operators. During these meetings, we listen to their thoughts and challenges and share our vision and work towards a sustainable destination through place development. 3. Working Closely with Local Tour Operators

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744 Measuring SDG 15 outcomes is like navigating a complex ecosystem. Collaborating with new partners inexperienced in tourism and sustainability presents challenges. Adapting to sustainability in tourism demands political decisions and consensus across sectors. • Difficulty in measuring the outcomes from our efforts to achieve SDG 15 achievement due to the complex nature of ecosystem health and biodiversity. • Challenges in collaborating with new partners inexperienced in tourism and sustainability. • Tourism officials find it challenging to adapt to new ways of working. Finding new partners within the municipality and prioritizing sustainability over traditional tourism development approaches is also difficult. • Need for political decisions to mandate municipal departments to allocate time and resources for sustainable tourism, requiring consensus and commitment across sectors.

We did a movie to learn and inspire to work with Sustainable Tourism https://youtu.be/xZXmi9awHUg The need for collaboration Why it is important

KEY TAKEAWAYS Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Pr. nr.:2022-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000089744 In conclusion, let's unite around Sustainable Development Goal 15: to safeguard terrestrial ecosystems. By collaborating across departments, involving local communities, and prioritizing eco-friendly practices, we can help achieve SDG 15 while preserving our natural landscapes for future generations. Together, we can create a future where tourism and conservation work together, ensuring a sustainable legacy. 1 Encouraging Collaboration: Stress the significance of different departments working together, even those not typically involved in tourism projects. Encourage teamwork across departments, breaking down barriers, and fostering cooperation among different areas of expertise. 2. Community Engagement: Engage local residents and stakeholders in decision-making processes. Their input and involvement are vital for the success and sustainability of tourism initiatives. 3. Environmental Protection: Partner with experts who possess the knowledge and expertise to effectively protect the surrounding natural environment. Prioritize sustainable practices to ensure the preservation of local ecosystems. 4. Strategic Preservation Plan: Develop a strategic plan in collaboration with stakeholders to preserve the place where you live and work. This plan should outline concrete steps and objectives for maintaining the area's cultural and environmental integrity. 5. Regular Meetings and Workshops: Schedule regular meetings and workshops to facilitate ongoing dialogue, knowledge sharing, and skill development among stakeholders. These gatherings are essential for gaining new insights and fostering a deeper understanding of sustainable tourism practices.

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