The 1872 creation of the world's first national park in Yellowstone started a universal momentum for the protection of nature. In Sweden, the polar explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld became the first to propose using the new concept to protect areas of the Swedish landscape. Axel Hamburg, Nordenskiöld and other scientists organized a plea for establishing Sweden's first national parks, Sarek in particular. They convinced the Swedish botanist and member of the Riksdag Karl Starbäck from Uppsala University to raise the question in the Riksdag. The proposition was accepted in May 1909, and the first nine national parks were established. These were also the first in Europe. Among them were Sarek and its neighbour the Stora Sjöfallet. The reason given for establishing the park was, as stated in official protocols, to "preserve a high mountain landscape in its natural state".