Djurgården is an invaluable heritage that must be protected and preserved for future generations. The association Protect Djurgården is a cultural environment association that wants to put an end to inappropriate building plans and instead restore the ambition to beautify and preserve Djurgården.
Since 1809, Swedish kings have had the right to dispose of Southern and Northern Djurgården. The aim was to protect thisarea. The Estates of the Realm decided that:
… the so-called DjurgårdsCassan may only be used for the improvement and beautification of Djurgården and the maintenance of bridges and roads there…
By 1995, these lands had shrunk to only half due to the City of Stockholm and the state’s expansion. The law on the National City Park was introduced in 1995 to finally put a stop to the exploitation of Djurgården. When the law was enacted, it aimed to preserve the natural and cultural values of the historic landscape. No damage would be allowed on these values.
Commercial forces with the support of the politicians in Stockholm City Hall and the Royal Djurgården administration have far-reaching expansion plans that go against two hundred years of political and legal decisions to protect Djurgården’s nature.
Some of the current projects which we oppose involves Gröna Lund’s expansion, the construction of a new water tower in Lill-Jansskogen, the traffic situation on Djurgården, Källhagen’s expected expansion and disturbing music events for animals and people on Djurgården. Of course, we are also closely following what is happening at Hasselbacken.
We simply continue to fight for the law on the National Urban Park to be followed as it was written in 1995: ”Within a national urban park, new buildings and new facilities may be established and other measures taken only if it can be done without encroaching on the park landscape and natural environment and without otherwise damaging the natural and cultural values of the historic landscape”.
Without popular resistance, large parts of Djurgården and the National City Park would be exploited and destroyed.