Conflicts and Synergies in Swedish Rural Areas: A study of peri-urban agricultural land

In rural Sweden, several land uses with different logics are often in conflict over the limited space, such as agriculture and forestry, nature conservation, and outdoor recreation. More knowledge on how to better understand and solve these conflicting land uses are called for.

With a starting point in agriculture, the aim of this project was therefore to study management of peri-urban agricultural land in Sweden. This by investigations into:  

1. Which land uses are more respectively less commensurable?
2. What are the pros and cons regarding methods and approaches in the current nature resource management?
3. What are the pros and cons regarding the diffused governance system for nature resource management? 

The more specific focus of the investigations was on agricultural lands in two Swedish municipalities, Halmstad and Uppsala. Lessons from England (Cambridge) was also utilised. The project indeed contributed to increased knowledge based in current land use logics beyond urban and rural divides.