Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

During a relatively short time period Sweden has experienced a significant decrease in farmland
area: between 1951 and 2010 over 1 million hectares was put out of production. Most of the
decrease in farmland area can be ascribed to conversion into forest plantation or unintentional
overgrowth of some form, and only 10 – 15% is due to development projects such as housing,
business facilities and infrastructure. There is however a fundamental difference between
farmland overgrowth and urban development on farmland, namely that the former is a reversible
process whereas urban development is practically irreversible. The decrease in farmland along
with a population growth has radically changed the possible rate of national self-sufficiency:
Sweden utilizes food products corresponding to roughly 0,41 hectares per capita whereas on a
national level there is only access to 0,28 hectares. The conversion of farmland is governed by
the environmental code and the task of managing issues of farmland conversion lies solely on
individual municipalities and there is no national coordination in the matter. Furthermore, there
are reports that point to shortcomings in the municipal application of the environmental code,
specifically in the comprehensive plan, and the need for stronger protection of farmland. As such
this study aims to explore the possibilities for the already ascribed legal protection of farmland to
function within municipal physical planning, with a focus on the comprehensive plan. To fulfill
this aim the study takes on a literature review, a review of municipal planning documents and an
interview study. The results show that there are large disparities between the management of
farmland in the actual comprehensive plan and the knowledge and beliefs of individuals involved
in the planning process, that there are significant perceived difficulties in valuing farmland and
that the application of the environmental code is insufficient to protect farmland.