From rhetoric to knowledge based actions – Challenges for outdoor recreation management in Sweden

• This paper investigates how outdoor recreation is considered in the context of strong biodiversity conservation ambitions, and discusses the challenges associated with outdoor recreation management in two protected areas in Sweden. The research employs qualitative techniques such as interviews with key actors and examinations of documents. The results show that while the two planning processes show a sincere engagement and effort spent on outdoor recreation management, no clear strategies for or systematic treatment of outdoor recreation became apparent. Worse, clear deficits in knowledge and relevant competences have been identified, and generally available scientific knowledge about outdoor recreation has not been utilized. Concerns of outdoor recreation are typically addressed by biologists, instead of professionals with training in any of the social sciences or planning disciplines. Apparently these fundamental deficiencies with regards to outdoor recreation can only be improved if it is recognized as a land use interest in its own right. In order to improve management and planning processes, outdoor recreation needs to be institutionalized, and receive its own management guidelines and formal process agendas.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Social och ekonomisk geografi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Social and Economic Geography (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Outdoor recreation; Nature conservation; Recreation planning; Recreation management; Sweden

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)