8/8/2019 The Rich Wetlands of Kristianstad - A Wealth of Experiences

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Media information | January 2011

There are wonders waiting to be experienced in the rich wetlands of Kristianstad,all year round. During the winter, hundreds of eagles gather in the area, whichwas designated a model region for sustainable development in 2005. The visitbegins at the newly opened Naturum Visitors’ Centre.

It is dawn on a frosty January morning; the white-tailed eagles sit

gathered in the trees by the Helge River. A couple of hours later, thewinter sun emerges over the Skåne landscape. A few eagles take off,startling a large flock of cackling geese. During the winter, hundredsof eagles gather in the rich wetlands of Kristianstad, drawn here by theabundance of food.

The Helge River runs like a blue thread through the rich wetlands of Kristianstad. At the edge of the river, just a stone’s throw away fromthe railway station, you’ll find the newly opened Naturum Visitors’Centre. A fascinating building constructed on stilts in the wetlands. Inthe heart of Kristianstad – in the heart of Wetlands!

You can find out more here about all the exciting things to discover atthe Wetlands’ 21 visitor sites with bird-watching towers, footbridgepaths, information boards and outdoor museums.

Few areas have such a rich and varied natural environment as theWetlands. The area is home to expansive shore meadows, swampforests and flowing water, broad-leaved deciduous forest and dry,sandy ground with a unique collection of flora and fauna.

In 2005, UNESCO designated the wetlands of Kristianstad Sweden’sfirst Biosphere Reserve. In the reserve we work with preserving thelandscape, ecosystems, species and genetic diversity, promoting

community development that is socially and ecologically sustainable,and supporting education and work experience, research andenvironmental monitoring.

Naturum Visitors’ Centre is open daily, 11.00 a.m.-5.00p.m. Address:Härlövsängaleden 2, 291 59 Kristianstad.

 Further informationÅsa Pearce, Information Officer, Biosphere Office Kristianstad Wetlands, phone: +46 733136462, E-mail: asa.pearce@kristianstad.se

http://www.vattenriket.kristianstad.se/eng/index.php 

http://www.vattenriket.kristianstad.se/eng/naturum_eng.php 

The rich wetlands of Kristianstad – a wealth of experiences

From the interior of Naturum Visitors’Center.Photo: Sven-Erik Magnusson (availablein press kit)

8/8/2019 The Rich Wetlands of Kristianstad - A Wealth of Experiences

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Clean Water and Pure VodkaKristianstad isn’t only surrounded by water above ground. Deep under the ground lies one of Europe’s biggest stores of groundwater, containing fresh, mineral water.

Rain that fell several thousands of years ago and has been purified naturally through layers of soilhas transformed into this superior drinking water. In a national contest, Kristianstad’s tap waterwas recently voted Southern Sweden’s tastiest water.

This same water, derived from an artesian source in Yngsjö south of Kristianstad, is alsodistributed to many countries as the bottled mineral water Malmberg Original Water, and haswon the European Sommeliers’ Taste Award for a “remarkable product”.

Kristianstad’s water is also a key ingredient in one of the world’s most famous drinks. The freshgroundwater is a significant reason why production of Absolut Vodka is still based in Åhus, evenafter the French spirit giant Pernod Ricard took over the factory.

 Further informationEva Mårtensson, Public Relations Manager, Municipality of Kristianstad, phone +46 733 135710,e-mail: eva.martensson@kristianstad.sehttp://eng.malmbergoriginal.se/  http://www.absolut.com/se/about/story 

Kristianstad, the climate municipality

Kristianstad has long been at the forefront of efforts to reduce ourimpact on climate and is widely known for its progressiveenvironmental and climate initiatives. Emissions of carbon dioxidehave been reduced by 25 percent over the past 20 years, and in 2005Kristianstad was voted Sweden’s most climate-conscious municipalityby the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.

Kristianstad is working on the ambitious goal of becoming a fossilfuel-free municipality. Major investments are being made in biofuel,biogas and wind power. All buses, municipal vehicles and manycompany cars are run on biogas, which is produced locally from thefood waste of local inhabitants and the food industry.

The investments and results are provoking considerable interestabroad. In December 2010, the New York Times published a lengthyfeature on Kristianstad’s initiatives to reduce environmental impact.

 Further informationLennart Erfors, Climate Strategist, Phone: +46 733 136160 lennart.erfors@kristianstad.se.http://www.kristianstad.se/sv/Kristianstads-kommun/Sprak/English/Environment/  

NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/11/science/earth/11fossil.html?_r=1&ref=science 

All the buses in Kristianstad run on biogas.

Photo: Claes Sandén (available in press kit)

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Kristianstad, the culinary municipalityKristianstad is an area with strong culinary traditions and a lot of food and drink is producedhere. Every day, all Swedes - and many people in other countries - eat something that comes fromKristianstad. The region is most famous for its vegetables, cured meats, water and vodka.

The fertile land has made Kristianstad a significant centre for food and drink. Kristianstad camethird in the Ministry of Agriculture’s competition to find Sweden’s Food Capital.

One important and fascinating institution is the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences’ installation at Balsgård, which has served as thecentre for Swedish refinements and research into fruit and berries forover 50 years. The plantations are brimming with apples, pears, rosehips,

sea buckthorn and other delicious fruits. Researchers at Balsgård areresponsible for producing an apple that can even be enjoyed by peoplewith an allergy to apples. The national gene bank is saving varieties of fruits and berries for the future. Balsgård is at the forefrontinternationally, at a time when modern health research is rediscoveringthe health benefits of berries. Researchers are isolating the substances inberries that are beneficial to health and contributing to the developmentof nutritious and tasty products. At the Centre for Innovative Drinks atBalsgård, food companies are testing processing products with fruit andberries.

 Further informationClaes Sandén, Project Leader Spirit of Food, Municipality of Kristianstad, + 46 733 139674,claes-henrik.sanden@kristianstad.seKimmo Rumpunen, Balsgård. Phone: + 46 44 265833, Kimmo.Rumpunen@ltj.slu.se 

Delicious apples from the plantations of 

Balsgård.

Photo: Claes Sandén (available in press kit)