The Archipelago Foundation
The Archipelago Foundation's mission is to keep the landscape open for all! We focus on promoting the development of outdoor life, culture, recreation, tourism and a vibrant archipelago. We want to preserve the archipelago's natural heritage, environment and the appearance of its landscape for future generations. We do this with the help of our rangers, conservationists and tenant farmers, who live in the archipelago.
Established in 1959
The Archipelago Foundation was established in 1959. From the very beginning, the Foundation's aim was to preserve the archipelago's natural and cultural heritage, and to provide the general public with access to this unique landscape.
It was soon clear that the areas that had been acquired by the Foundation needed to be managed all year round via leasing to archipelago farmers, and by employing individuals who live in the archipelago to work as rangers.
The Archipelago Foundation today
Today, the Foundation owns and manages around 15% of the area of the archipelago. This includes areas of significant natural and cultural value. Our task is to develop and manage these areas in the best possible way, and ensure that they remain accessible to the general public.
The Foundation's aim is to preserve all pastoral areas and keep the landscape open. In order to achieve this we need the help of archipelago farmers and grazing animals. The Foundation currently owns 16 farm leaseholds, and in order to increase the number of grazing animals on the islands there are some 30 other agricultural leaseholds with private farms.
Over a thousand buildings from three centuries in our care
Besides agricultural buildings, the Foundation's collection of buildings includes various types of tourist centre, permanent and summer houses, but also several special buildings such as windmills, lighthouses, observation towers and old buildings of cultural significance. In total, the collection comprises over a thousand buildings representing three centuries, from the 18th to the 20th century.
The day-to-day work of the Archipelago Foundation involves preserving and managing the countryside and buildings, and protecting the archipelago's animal and plant life for current and future generations.
Major employer
The Foundation's head office is on Skeppsholmen in Stockholm, but most of our employees are based out in the archipelago. Some 50 or so rangers operate here. The Foundation's rangers are now an archipelago concept. Except when the water is covered by ice, rangers are out in their boats in the archipelago all year round. They oversee the Foundation's land and water areas, see that the rules of the nature reserves and protected areas are observed, and are always ready to offer visitors a helping hand. Their presence offers a genuine sense of security, both for visitors and for those living out in the archipelago.
All the Foundation's tourist centres are leased to archipelago residents. The Foundation thus indirectly employs several hundred people, all of whom in their various functions have an important role to play in the archipelago's tourist industry.
Many Friends
Some 23,000 people and companies currently support the work of the Archipelago Foundation as Friends of the Foundation.
More information about the foundation on our website: http://www.archipelagofoundation.se/
Contact:
Telephone: + 46 (0)8 440 56 00
E mail: kansliet@skargardsstiftelsen.se
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