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FAQ Anna Jansson, park warden, answers frequently asked questions about Färnebofjärden National Park. If you have a question you can e-mail, click here. Why did the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency choose to set aside Färnebofjärden as a national park? But Färnebofjärden was just as splendid before it became a national park. Why is any area set aside as a national park? Why is the speed limit for boats set at twelve knots? Is it the police who monitor the boating speed limit? Are there penalties for breaking the rules of a national park? What does your daily routine consist of? Are there any other national parks near Färnebofjärden? It says in the regulations that dogs must be kept on a lead throughout the year. Does that apply even on islands where there are no elks or roe deer, and to dogs that are not hunting dogs? Do the rules for bird sanctuaries begin to apply at the start of spring? What is the harm of water-skiing near Sandön Island, where there is not very much animal life? It is not very quiet when a military fighter plane roars past in the skies above the park. Is that really permitted? Why is it not permitted to operate motor vehicles within the park? What do I have to do in order to drive a snowmobile on ice in the national park? In that case, what is meant by "off-road"? So consideration must be taken on behalf of the birds. Is that also why it is forbidden to enter certain locations in the park? F: Why did the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency choose to set aside Färnebofjärden as a national park? S: The purpose of this national park is to preserve a unique riverine landscape with surroundings that include valuable forest and wetlands; those at Färnebofjärden are essentially unspoiled. F: But Färnebofjärden was just as splendid before it became a national park. Why is any area set aside as a national park? S: The basic idea with national parks is to preserve elements of Sweden's natural heritage for future generations. For that to be possible, it is necessary to prevent the destruction or spoilage of such areas by any kind of exploitation. Swedish law specifies that national parks shall consist of representative landscape types to be preserved in their natural states, and of scenically beautiful natural settings which can provide powerful experiences of nature. Another purpose is to offer people the opportunity to get out into the forest and open countryside. F: Why is the speed limit for boats set at twelve knots? S: It is primarily out of consideration for others. Those who visit the national park wish to experience nature in various ways. Some want to operate motorboats, others want to paddle canoes, still others prefer to wander in nature. Some wish to experience silence; for others, noise is not a problem. In order to make it possible for all of these people with their different interests to get along, the noise level and the speed of boats must be kept low. That is the reason for the speed limit on boat traffic. F: Is it the police who monitor the boating speed limit? S: In the national parks, the relevant county administrative boards are responsible for supervision. In the case of Färnebofjärden, supervisors employed by the Västmanland County Administrative Board enforce all park regulations, including the speed limit for boats. In performing its supervisory duties, a county administrative board may request assistance from the police. F: Are there penalties for breaking the rules of a national park? S: Yes. Depending on the offence, the penalties range from fines to imprisonment for up to two years. The penalties for environmental crimes are relatively severe. F: What does your daily routine consist of? S: My duties as park warden are quite varied. Some of the time, I sit in the park office and plan what needs to be done, for example to look after the trails, maintain the buildings in good condition, or post signs at the bird sanctuaries. I also keep in touch with those who cut hay or graze animals in the area, as well as the entrepreneurs who take care of the wind shelters, among other things. In addition, I participate in meetings of the park management council and fish-conservation clubs. My job also requires me to get out and make sure that the park regulations are observed. I try to provide enough information so that everyone understands the rules before they enter the park. I am responsible for some supervision of our facilities, but it is usually the entrepreneurs who inform me if something needs attention. I also try to be available to those who have questions about the park. F: Are there any other national parks near Färnebofjärden? S: That depends on what one means by "near". Tyresta National Park, which a few years ago experienced a forest fire, lies just outside of Stockholm. It is also the site of National Park House, which has information displays on all of Sweden's national parks. Other national parks that are not too far distant include Ängsö near Stockholm, Tiveden between lakes Vänern and Vättern, Garphyttan in the Örebro area, Djurö amidst the waters of Lake Vänern, Hamra in "Finn Country" near Orsa, and Fulufjället which lies in northwest Dalarna and is the most recently established of Sweden's national parks. F: It says in the regulations that dogs must be kept on a lead throughout the year. Does that apply even on islands where there are no elks or roe deer, and to dogs that are not hunting dogs? S: Yes. Whether or not a dog is used for hunting, it always has the potential to disturb other animals. The national park regulations apply everywhere within the park. In areas that are not legally protected for conservation purposes, the rules connected with the right of public access apply. The park regulations specify that dogs may not run loose during 1 March - 20 August every year, in order to protect wildlife during the most sensitive period when the young are being born and raised. We want to minimize disturbances to the national park's animals, both young and old, throughout the year. This applies to all animals, including elks, seabirds, otters, amphibians, etc. Furthermore, wild species of toad, lizard and snake have been legally protected throughout Sweden since 1 January 2000. F: Do the rules for bird sanctuaries begin to apply at the start of spring? S: The rules apply for permanent bird sanctuaries from 1 January - 15 June every year. During that period, it is not permitted to enter the sanctuaries. There are also certain sign-posted islands and islets which one may not approach closer than 100 metres. At such locations, there is most likely a species of bird that becomes very disturbed if a boat comes too near its nesting place. The no-trespassing period for these sites extends from 1 April - 15 July every year. F: What is the harm of water-skiing near Sandön Island, where there is not very much animal life? S: The park regulations apply everywhere within its boundaries. Water-skiing is prohibited. Sandön is one of the islands in the park on which it is permitted to set up tents. Many visitors visit the island for that reason-- not to go swimming or operate motorboats. Those who want to water-ski can instead use some part of Färnebofjärden that is not protected. F: It is not very quiet when a military fighter plane roars past in the skies above the park. Is that really permitted? S: Yes, it is permitted to fly over the national park if a minimum altitude of 300 metres above ground is maintained. However, military planes are allowed to fly at lower altitudes in certain situations-- during extremely bad weather, for example. F: Why is it not permitted to operate motor vehicles within the park? S: Yes, it is permitted to fly over the national park if a minimum altitude of 300 metres above ground is maintained. However, military planes are allowed to fly at lower altitudes in certain situations-- during extremely bad weather, for example. F: What do I have to do in order to drive a snowmobile on ice in the national park? S: To seek an exemption from a regulation, application must be made to the county administrative board of the relevant county. But it is difficult to get an exemption. For recreational snowmobiling, including that connected with fishing, exemptions are never issued. The regulation prohibiting the operation of motor vehicles on off-road terrain and on ice is stricter than the Off-road Driving Act, which states that it is never permitted to operate motor vehicles off-road. The reason for this is to minimize the risk of someone driving from a road onto the ice, and then continuing on to some other part of the landscape. F: In that case, what is meant by "off-road"? S: All ground lying beyond the margins of roadways is regarded as off-road; this includes parks, cropland, meadows, forest, heaths, beaches and mountain barrens. Paths, hiking trails and exercise trails are legally classified as off-road terrain, as well. In Färnebofjärden National Park, it is forbidden throughout the year to operate motor vehicles. This is because extra consideration is necessary. Some of the birds in the national park begin to nest early in the year; to avoid disturbing them, or visitors who have entered the park to experience silence, motor vehicles may not be operated at any time. F: So consideration must be taken on behalf of the birds. Is that also why it is forbidden to enter certain locations in the park? S: Yes, that's right. Between 1 January and 15 June every year, it is forbidden to enter the areas along the west banks of the Storån and Lillån rivers, all of Ängsön Island, the point of land called Sissudd, and the waters around the Vedöar islands. These areas include nesting sites for birds that are very sensitive to disturbance; they need peace and quiet to produce their offspring. At the most recent meeting of the Färnebofjärden park management council, the establishment of temporary sanctuaries was discussed as a possible measure for ensuring that such areas are left undisturbed during brief, especially sensitive periods. If temporary bird sanctuaries are established, their boundaries will be clearly marked. |
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