Landscape experiences as a cultural ecosystem service in a Nordic context Concepts, values and decision-making

• Main Authors: Lindhjem, Henrik, Reinvang, Rasmus, Zandersen, Marianne
• Format: eBook
• Language: English
• Published: Copenhagen Nordisk Ministerråd 2015; Nordic Council of Ministers
• Edition: 1
• Series: TemaNord
• Subjects: Cultural heritage; Denmark; Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning; Ecosystem services; Engineering and Technology; Environment; Environmental Conservation & Protection; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Management; Finland; Hållbar utveckling; Landmiljö; Landscape; Landscape changes; Miljö; Miljöteknik och miljöledning; Natur; Nature; Naturresursteknik; Nordic countries; Norway; Offentliga finanser; Public finance; Rural environment; Scandinavia; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Sweden; Teknik; The environment; Tourism; Turism; Wind power
• ISBN: 9789289342391; 9789289342407; 9289342404; 9289342390; 9789289342414; 9289342412
• ISSN: 0908-6692
• DOI: 10.6027/TN2015-549

Cultural ecosystem services in the form of experiences derived from landscapes are potentially important, but often overlooked. Given the large and unprecedented landscape changes many of the Nordic countries are undergoing, there is a need to find ways of including people’s preferences and the value of landscape impacts in policy assessments and decision-making processes. The project aim has been to synthesize knowledge about the magnitude and value of landscape experiences, and investigate current practices and examples of how landscape impacts are incorporated (or not) in policy assessments and decision-making contexts in the Nordics. The literature demonstrates potentially high unaccounted welfare loss from landscape change. We find clear weaknesses in current practices, that a second phase will try to address. The project was carried out by Vista Analysis in Oslo and Department of Environmental Science at Aarhus University from 2014–15.