The association Elvesvingen by Yngve Zakarias proposed in a meeting on 17 June 2016 with the municipality's environmental unit and the county governor's environmental protection department to establish the Trondheim Urban Nature Reserve in Elvesvingen. The environmental protection department then approached the Norwegian Environment Agency on 10 January 2017 in a dialogue about the long-term possibility.

Trondheim Urban Nature Reserve is proposed as a summary of the existing many provisions under one purpose. First and foremost, investigation and mapping of the system must help to ensure adequate protection. The demarcation is proposed to follow KPA § 42.1 downstream of the Elgeseter bridge, upstream of the Cecilie bridge, as both bridges have motor traffic.

Trondheim Urban Nature Reserve
exists de facto as a system of designation areas, often overlapping, with different categories of protection. In 2016, the topic was raised in the consultation on the zoning plan.

urban nature area (click for larger image)

• Nidelv corridor designation area in the area part of the municipal plan (conservation status consideration zone, building ban)
• Wildlife area red and yellow zone with up to regional very high value/national value (Zoological note 2012, NTNU)
• National salmon watercourse since 2006 (conservation status)
• Nature type area important (valuation and call for for investigations, the Norwegian Environment Agency)
• Red list species (specific duty of care according to the law, the Species Data Bank)
• Lack of knowledge and investigations (general care requirement)
• "Elvesvingen" ecosystem zone, various species observations, private care etc (informal)
• Public opinion: Preserve open space and green structure (opinion)
• Nature/culture hybrid finds of value, e.g. Martagon Lily possibly a surviver from the old Nidarø farm

October 2016, 1st version of list submitted as part of the zoning plan consultation input, August 2016

March 6 2018, the association Elvesvingen decided to establish the Trondheim Urban Nature Reserve, 46 participants, 42 signed.
August 31 2023, 7 years after the founding, the annual meeting decided to deregister the association, and that Yngve Zakarias continue the work with Trondheim Urban Nature Reserve (TUN) "based in his own workshop and online in his independent business".
Workshop in the middle of the bend: at the same distance as the crow flies from St. Olav's Hospital as from Nidaros Cathedral is the Elvesvingen Workshop.