This is how we are organised

The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) currently has over 200,000 members and our local and regional associations are found throughout the country. All members may participate in influencing the association’s work, which issues should be prioritised and how we should operate in the best way possible. This means that we are the largest democratically organised environmental organisation in Sweden. 

As a popular movement, we stand up for transparency, solidarity and everyone being equal. These values are fundamental in any democratic society.  

Local level: SSNC operates throughout the country in the form of local associations. There are 270 local associations, almost one in each municipality.  

These local associations are independent and engaged in their own various activities, such as courses, excursions, debates and so on. They often seek to influence local environmental efforts in their municipalities. The local associations decide upon their own activities, and their members elect representatives to the local association board at a general meeting.  

Regional level: SSNC has 24 county associations. They work with county-wide environmental issues, such as serving as an advisory body during road construction or organising courses and training. The board of a county association is elected by delegates from the local associations in the county. At the county general meetings, each local association is able to present proposals for future activities.  

SSNC also has ten regional offices offering support and coordinating the activities of the local and county associations.  

Local and regional associations are found here  

National level: SSNC has a national board elected by delegates from the local and county associations at a national general meeting. This national general meeting is SSNC’s highest decision-making body and also sets the association’s operational goals.  

The national board appoints a secretary-general to serve as the head of the association’s main office and its staff. The main office works with the areas having been identified as priorities by SSNC, while also managing the association’s finances, membership database, the membership magazine Sveriges Natur (Swedish Nature), developing the association, communication, offering advice and many other issues concerning the association as a whole.  

Every two years, members and delegates from local and county associations from all over the country participate in the general meeting of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. Here a national board is elected and decisions are made with regard to which issues should be prioritised in the association’s work. All members may submit proposals to the general meeting, and these are referred to as motions. Proposals from the national board are called propositions. All members may speak at the general meeting, but only the delegates may vote.  

Prior to every other general meeting, the national board presents its suggested operational guidelines for the next four-year period. These operational guidelines represent the most important policy document for the organisation apart from its statutes.   

SSNC’s current operating guidelines for 2019–2022 (in Swedish) 

Between general meetings, the national board is to ensure that the operational guidelines and other decisions are adhered to, in addition to ensuring that the association’s organisational framework and democratic processes function and develop. In order to implement the decisions having been made, there is a main office reporting to the national board. 

Read more about the national board of SSNC 

During years when there is no general meeting, a national conference is instead organised, which is open to all members. These national conferences include features such as talks, lectures and various activities aiming to inspire and develop new ideas for the operations of the entire association. The national conferences also serve as an opportunity to socialise, exchange experiences and have fun with other members.

SSNC also has seven national networks: climate, forest, chemical, ocean, food/agriculture and environmentally friendly shopping. These networks are open to all members and are aimed at people who are particularly interested in an issue. The networks organise meetings, training and activities as well as sending out newsletters in their particular area.  

Read more about the networks of SSNC

Environmental problems do not recognise any borders. That is why the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation collaborates with some 40 organisations around the world, ranging from global networks to local organisations.  In our development cooperation efforts, environmental issues and human rights go hand in hand. The current environmental degradation affects poor people the most. These are people who often depend entirely on the nature close to where they live to survive.  

Read more about how we work with our global partner organisations

The database of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) also includes an overview of all projects supported by SSNC