Torbj�rn Lahti, the "father" of the eco-municipality movement in Sweden, and Sarah James, planning consultant, were invited to Ashland in February to share with Chequamegon Bay residents ideas for practicing sustainable development. The workshop was sponsored by the Alliance for Sustainability and 15 local co-sponsors including the Center for Land Use Education. Mary Rehwald, conference organizer and member of the Ashland City Council, and Jane Silberstein, UW-Extension CNRED educator were instrumental in bringing the workshop to Ashland.

Becoming an Eco-municipality Using the Natural Step Framework

The purpose of the workshop was to share with participants how the Chequamegon Bay region could become an eco-municipality based on the Natural Step concept.

Eco-Municipality
�Eco� in the word �eco-municipality� stands for two words: ecological and economic. To Swedes, these two concepts are complementary. The first Swedish town to become an eco-municipality was �vertorne�, a region once struggling with economic recession. When asked in the mid-1980s to direct a "futures project," Lahti worked with the town people and farmers to revitalize the economy. As a result, 200 new businesses flourished, 40 farmers united to provide organic food to the schools, and the town reduced its dependency on fossil fuels from 80% to 20% by converting its heating plants. �vertorne�s success was the spark for a renaissance of 3,300 town sustainability initiatives throughout Scandinavia. The Nordic model was the foundation for solutions brought forth at the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Summit in 1992 on economic development and the environment.

1. Reduce dependence upon fossil fuels, underground metals and minerals

2. Reduce dependence on synthetic chemicals

3. Reduce encroachment upon nature (land, water, wildlife etc.)

4. Meet human needs fairly and efficiently

The Ashland Workshop

The Ashland workshop, led by Lahti and James, explored the history of the Swedish experience, outlined the Natural Step framework, and allowed participants to meet in small groups to envision changes that would lead to an eco-municipality. Over 250 participants, representing city and tribal governments, students and teachers, small business owners, family farmers, regional planning organizations, and interested citizens were in attendance. Workshop attendees participated in a small group exercise to brainstorm sustainable action items related to tourism, food and agriculture, education, housing, business and economic development, energy, transportation and waste. At the end of the exercise participants prioritized actions that should be taken in the Chequamegon Bay region.

About 60 participants attended a post-workshop planning session to discuss strategies that could be taken by the region to become an eco-municipality. The following seven steps were identified and discussed:

1. Finding the "fire souls"

2. Initial education and awareness raising

3. Official endorsement

4. Involving the implementers

5. Applying the �compass� process

6. Whole plan endorsement

7. Keeping it going

Additional Resources

Sustainable Sweden Association.  www.sustainablesweden.org.

American Planning Association. (2000). Policy Guide on Planning for Sustainability. www.planning.org/policyguides/sustainability.htm. 

Sarah James and Torbj�rn Lahti. (2004). The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices. Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers.  www.newsociety.com.