Deltagande planering vid tätorsnära konflikter om skogen - intressentanalys och preferensstudie i området runt Skärsjön, Skinnskatteberg

Abstract: The forest is Sweden's largest natural resource, and it is expected to meet several conflicting needs Wood production is prioritized, but in recent years, conservation of environmental values and biodiversity have also demanded their right. Another important aspect of the forest is the importance of social values. Unfortunately, the valuation and management of social values is much neglected in today's forestry, and this creates conflicts in urban forests. Participatory planning involving more stakeholders than the landowner can be used to resolve conflicts in the forest. This study focused on a conflict of interests in a recreational area around Skärsjön near Skinnskatteberg. Extensive parts of the forest around Skärsjön are in the final harvesting phase. The objective of this study was to identify the goals of the various stakeholders, to examine visitor preferences, and to propose a management method based on the results. Surveys and interviews were used in the data collection. According to the literature, Continuous-Cover Forestry (CCF) is the most suitable forest management method for use in forests with high social values. This is also confirmed by this study’s results. It is clear that the visitors’ preferences were drawn to multilayered forest structures such as mature forest with undergrowth, multilayered forests and natural forests. Forest phases like clearcut, young forests, and forests after first thinning were found to be the least appealing. A surprising result in the study was that the respondents preferred spruce forest over pine or birch forest. The respondents’ perceived need for shelter during their short vacation at Kolarbyn or their visit to the swimming area could be an explanation. Even the expressed sympathy for natural forest is astonishing. Is it the study's modest sample affecting the outcome or is this a result of increasing environmental awareness and knowledge in society? In any case, managing the forest around Skärsjön using Continuous-Cover Forestry (CCF) is recommended to meet the wishes of the stakeholders. A compromise is needed where the economic expectations are lowered to accommodate those values we do not have the knowledge to valuate or the will to acknowledge, but which are irreplaceable for the inhabitants and visitors of Skinnskatteberg.