Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The forest landscapes in south of Sweden have become fragmented from a long history of intensive forestry and agriculture. This has affected species natural habitats negatively and the possibilities to spread in the landscape are limited. Therefore, functional habitat networks for biodiversity conservation are crucial to maintain and enhance species and habitats in the future, often mentioned green infrastructure.
The aim of this paper was to examine what material forest companies use to prioritize and plan for nature conservation and furthermore, in what way can these materials be adjusted with the purpose to promote green infrastructure.
Qualitative interviews have been performed with four officials and one entrepreneur working at different forest companies. The study indicates that the forest management plan is one of the most effective instruments to identify nature values and make suitable decisions in how to manage the stand. Forestry officials and entrepreneurs need education in how to work with green infrastructure and access to illustrative guidelines and applications. A key factor to achieve success in the work with green infrastructure is collaboration among authorities, officials and forest owners.