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Nature interpretation can be defined as developing knowledge of and feelings for
nature and the cultural landscape. Nature interpreters are active at places such as
government authorities, visitor centres, companies, museums and non-profit organisations.
The Swedish Centre for Nature Interpretation, CNV, was established in
2007 by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish University
of Agricultural Sciences with the aim of it serving as a meeting place, a centre for
development and a competence resource for all nature interpreters in Sweden.
This report is the result of an extensive survey and some additional overviews
conducted by CNV through interviews and questionnaires. For the survey CNV
analysed nature interpretation undertaken by authorities, visitor centres, protected
areas, museums, nature schools, companies and non-profit organisations.
All analysed actors work with guiding and guiding is being done within several
subjects and themes. Exhibitions are found at visitor centres and museums. The
survey also looked into the work of the actors within the areas of self guiding trails,
program activities, information boards and web sites, as well as nature interpretation
methods dealing with new techniques such as mobile phones and GPS.
The survey showed that nature interpreters want to promote interest; mediate
knowledge and understanding; give positive experiences; create environmental
involvement; promote health, recreation and outdoor activities; make nature accessible;
combine nature and cultural perspectives; and promote local economy.
Most nature interpreters feel that their work is meaningful and see many positive
aspects in their work. However, there are also negative aspects, mostly to do
with lack of resources. Nature interpreters have many ideas and thoughts about
what can be developed in interpretation activities. The kind of support they would
like to receive from CNV correlates well with the tasks that CNV have.
There are at present very few pure nature interpretation education programs in
Sweden. However, a rather large number of programs of education would qualify as
partly useful if one attempts to work as a nature interpreter.
The research overview surveyed scientific articles within subjects such as environmental
education, interpretation education and outdoor recreation to look for
research of relevance for nature interpretation.
Among the Nordic countries, Denmark has the most developed system for
nature interpretation. In Denmark 300 nature interpreters have been educated since
1986. Norway is attempting to build a similar system as in Denmark. In Norway,
Finland and Iceland, nature interpreters are more often connected to protected areas
than they are in Denmark. In the USA there is a long tradition of interpretation in
both national parks and at historic sites. Most American interpreters are organised
through the National Association for Interpretation, NAI, which also has an
international section. In Europe there is a dormant network called Interpret Europe
and a more active organisation for those who work with protected areas –
Europarc. Several national interpretation organizations also have members from
many countries.
It can be concluded that nature interpreters in Sweden constitute a diverse
group but with a similar ideology. The connection between nature interpretation
and environmental involvement is difficult to prove but many nature interpreters
feel intuitively that the connection exists. More evaluation is needed before that
issue could be addressed. There are several neighbouring areas to nature interpretation
and many different methods are used depending on the context. Nature
interpretation has come to Sweden to stay, and there are many questions for the
future. CNV will work to develop methods of value for nature interpreters. At the
same time there is a need for more research concerning some of the remaining
questions. The status of nature interpretation needs to be improved and, as the
examples from Denmark and USA show, there are many ways to achieve this.