Öresund is a unique sea area with many valuable nature types and high biodiversity within a relatively small area. At the same time, it is one of the world's busiest sea areas, 35,000 ships pass here annually and in a metropolitan region with approximately 3.7 million inhabitants.
 
To promote sustainable development through increased cooperation between public actors, authorities, companies, associations and the public on both sides of the strait, work was initiated in 2015 to establish a biosphere reserve (UNESCO) in the Sound. Biosphere areas are about sustainable use of an area where new methods and new knowledge are tested in order to achieve long-term sustainable social development. Biosphere areas are part of UNESCO's scientific program Man and the Biosphere. There are currently 738 biosphere reserves in 134 countries. In Sweden, biosphere areas are a complement to cultural and nature reserves, national parks and other designations of areas with high natural and cultural values. Biosphere area decisions do not in themselves provide protection in the legal sense. It also does not provide for any restrictions on or expanded requirements for existing protected areas.
 
The background to the proposal is that the preservation of the unique natural values in the Öresund would benefit from the neutral arena for cooperation that a biosphere reserve constitutes, and the opportunity it provides to elevate the area as a model area for sustainable development.
The initiators are the Marine Knowledge Center in Malmö together with the city of Malmö, the County Administrative Board in Skåne, Region Skåne and World Maritim University, who brought forward and promoted the proposal and drove the dialogue in various contexts, both in Sweden and Denmark. The Swedish Biosphere Office has also participated in the dialogue and is positive about the initiative.

More information to follow