The role of horse keeping in transforming peri-urban landscapes: A case study from metropolitan Stockholm, Sweden. Issue 3 (27th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hammer, Monica; Bonow, Madeleine; Petersson, Mona
• Is Part Of: Norsk geografisk tidsskrift. Volume 71:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 146
• Page End: 158
• Publication Date: 2017-05-27
• Subjects: Hannes Palang, Catriona Turner; cultural landscapes -- ecosystem services -- horse keeping -- peri-urban planning; Geography -- Periodicals; Norway -- Geography -- Periodicals; 914.81
• DOI: 10.1080/00291951.2017.1340334
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-1951

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The authors analyze sustainable cultural landscapes through the lens of ecosystem services. Their case study focuses on transformation of the peri-urban landscape of the Stockholm region, Sweden. Peri-urban landscapes are characterized by diversified and fragmented land uses that are strongly related to urban lifestyles. The rapidly increasing trend for recreational horse keeping is replacing traditional agriculture. Horse keepers' and local government perspectives on horse keeping are examined, as well as the related demand for ecosystem services, which affects the landscape. The article is based on government documents, interviews with local government officials, and field visits to 16 horse-keeping facilities in two municipalities. Horse keeping was found important for sustaining cultural ecosystem services related to a rural cultural landscape and for maintaining traditional agriculture that provides provisioning ecosystem services. However, several differences between traditional agriculture and horse keeping that affect the demand for ecosystem services related to land use were found to shift the focus from provisioning services to recreational services. The authors conclude that horse keeping, as an emerging crosscutting issue in peri-urban landscapes, needs new more integrative planning processes that account for the full range of ecosystem services and links between cultural services and ecosystem functioning.