Utveckling av ängs- och betesmarker ur lantbrukarens perspektiv - En intervjustudie i Örkelljunga kommun

Sammanfattning: Meadows and pastures are one of the most species-rich habitats in Europe and Sweden. These ecosystems are dependent on ongoing care to keep their biological and cultural values alive. Farmers who manages meadows and pastures under certain conditions receive financial compensation from the EU. The politically formulated objectives of nature conservation, cultural heritage and biodiversity will, according to the Swedish nature conservation association, not be accomplished without the meadows and pastures. This study reports on farmers' experiences and opinions about meadows and pastures in Örkelljunga municipality. Eight farmers were interviewed in their home using semi-structured interviews. The factors that affect the preservation of meadows and pastures on the basis of the interviewed farmers' perspective are: natural conditions, personal and cultural values, societal changes, profitability, the financial compensation for farmers, rules and controls. The study also shows that the majority of the visited farms have an uncertain future. This means that the meadows and pastures are in danger of not being managed in the future. The overall trend tells us that farms, farmers and grazing animals decrease in Sweden which leads to a reduction of meadows and pastures.