I was recently reading the book There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Åkeson McGurk. She is a Swedish-American mom who talks about the differences between raising kids in the U.S. vs Sweden. One of the main differences she emphasizes is the time spent outdoors and our relationship to nature. Swedes believe that getting outside, especially in wild spaces, is a crucial cornerstone for our health and well-being.
When explaining our human right to nature, McGurk mentions a Swedish law called The Right of Public Access or Allemansrätten, which translates to “All Man’s Rights” in Swedish. This means Sweden believes that it is everyone’s right to be able to roam free in nature.
The Swedish Right of Public Access Law
The Right of Public Access (Allemansrätten) is a common law in Sweden that grants anybody the right to walk, ride a bike or horse, ski, pick berries and mushrooms, or camp on private land.
In the Swedish Constitution (under property laws), it says, “Everyone shall have access to nature according to the everyman’s right, independent of what is prescribed above.”
Here is a further breakdown of the law and what it entails:
- You are allowed to access any land, except private residences, the immediate vicinity (70 metres) of a dwelling house, and cultivated land.
- You can put up a tent.
- You are allowed to collect mushrooms, berries, and flowers (as long as they are not protected species)
- Driving on private roads is allowed unless there’s a sign saying otherwise.
- Swimming in lakes is allowed.
- You can access any beach as long as you stay away from private residences.
- You are allowed to catch fish in the five big lakes and along the entire coastline.
Some Exceptions
While looking at the law at face value, it seems like anything is possible, but there are some rules and exceptions to it. However, I will say these exceptions should be natural limitations to respect nature and people.
- Must be 70 meters of a private dwelling
- Nature reserves, National Parks, and farmland are prohibited
- Be mindful of fire bans if starting a campfire
- Off-road driving is prohibited
- Keep dogs on leashes
- Local rules may apply – do some research on where you’re going
History
The history behind this law goes back to ancient customs. There is evidence in many European countries, specifically the Nordic ones, that it used to be customary and completely natural.
“Today, the right to roam has survived in perhaps its purest form in Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Here the right has been won through practice over hundreds of years and it is not known when it changed from mere ‘common practice’ to become a commonly recognized right.”
In 1994, it became a law that was officially put into the constitution by the government.
Discussion
This simple law seemed very foreign to my American upbringing, where private property rights are taken very seriously and “trespassing” can get you arrested. Not to mention, fencing is everywhere, privatization and colonization of land are too common, and natural untouched spaces are growing rare. Exclusionary laws regarding property rights are more dominant in the U.S.
In Sweden, the society has an inherent trust in each other and the government, and for the most part, that trust is not broken. It allows citizens to have a collective responsibility for nature by not having a hierarchal system around it. This can also form a deeper relationship with nature and make us want to preserve and take care of it.
As mentioned, there are similar laws in other European countries – so do you think this kind of law could be implemented in the U.S.?
