Betydande relationer till ekosystemtjänster i ett multifunktionellt landskap

Sammanfattning: Ecosystem functions and services are vital for all humankind and our existence. Nevertheless, ecosystems are deteriorating due to human activities, while the influence over and partaking of their services is unequally distributed. A multifunctional landscape has the characteristics of supplying a broad range of ecosystem services, attracting stakeholders that will build diverse relationships to the benefits of these services. The study poses the questions, within one multifunctional area, what relationships to the ecosystem services of the landscape can be found, how do the relationships differ, and how do they portray the importance and sustainability of the functionality of the landscape and certain sites within the landscape. These are followed by the query: what are the possibilities and obstacles concerning the sustainability of the ecosystem services and the wellbeing of the beneficiaries to them. Within the boundaries of participatory mapping and sampled semi-structured interviews, this study has explored diverse stakeholders’ relationships to ecosystems in a delineated landscape in Scania, Sweden. By understanding the relationships to ecosystem services both spatially and vocally, present, and potential conflicts can be identified. As conflicts are understood to be obstacles to the sustainable development of landscapes and connected ecosystem functions and services, these identifications are of significance. A spatial understanding of the distribution of the ecosystem services, provides knowledge about which areas are sensitive to change, and which are not. Thus, providing such mapping can help inform decision-makers about which stakeholders that will be affected by future changes in the management of the landscape. Stakeholders’ epistemological bias seems to influence their view of the importance of different ecosystem services. This is useful in understanding partiality in conflicts, and how the sharing and trading of knowledge and perspectives can help find a common and concurring path forward for the preservation and distribution of ecosystem services in the landscape.