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Moderna tolkningar av De tre systrarna: : hållbar mångkultur för urbana miljöer i norra klimat
No full textThis thesis explores the adaptation of the traditional Indigenous Three Sisters intercropping system (maize, beans, and squash) to modern, sustainable, and space-efficient growing formats in a northern urban context. Through a series of qualitative and semi-quantitative trials conducted in southern Sweden, four growing systems were tested: intercropped greenhouse bathtubs, outdoor intercropped raised beds, outdoor intercropped container pots, and outdoor monoculture beds, which served as a control for comparison. The study aimed to evaluate each system’s performance in terms of plant health, weed suppression, pest resilience, growth efficiency, ecological cooperation, and space requirements. It also investigated the potential of substituting traditional crops with alternatives such as sunflower, zucchini, and cucumber. Results showed that the greenhouse bathtub system demonstrated the most vigorous growth and strongest interplant cooperation, while the container and raised bed systems showed promising potential with some limitations. Monoculture beds consistently underperformed across all criteria. Findings confirm that even under low-input conditions, the Three Sisters model, when adapted to contained formats, can support resilient, efficient, and ecologically beneficial food production in small spaces. The study highlights the potential of Indigenous-inspired polycultures for sustainable urban agriculture in northern climates and suggests pathways for further adaptation, biodiversity integration, and system optimization
The Uppsala tramway project : a balancing act between swift and slow planning
Full text linkGrowing cities, increased urbanisation and sustainability challenges cause strain on existing transportation systems, which in turn emphasises the importance of adequate urban planning. Calls for swift and efficient planning to combat sustainability challenges and to adhere to economic and political constraints coexist with calls for incorporating deliberative forms of planning and citizen participation in planning, also referred to as slow planning. In this case study, an ongoing infrastructure project, namely the Uppsala tramway project is explored with the purpose of investigating how planners experience and manage double pressure for swift and slow planning when planning for an infrastructure project. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and a thematic analysis of the interviews was performed. The results show that there is a double pressure for planning swiftly or efficiently, and for planning slowly and involving citizens in planning processes. Furthermore, the results show that political and economic factors are experienced by the interviewees as the main causes for pressure to plan swiftly, and that the balancing act for swift and slow planning largely focuses on enhancing slow planning to become more efficient by improving dialogue designs and by keeping citizens informed before, and throughout a project's duration. To conclude, the balancing act between swift and slow planning is present in the tramway project, and by openly acknowledging and accepting that diverging needs in planning exist, discussion and creative planning that can allow for slow and swift planning to coexist, can emerge
Biokol på kenyanska småbruk : en kvalitativ studie av jordbrukares uppfattningar, hållbarhetsaspekter och utmaningar med implementering
No full textSmallholder farmers in Kenya face interconnected environmental and socio-economic pressures such as erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, seasonal floods, and soil degradation that undermine crop productivity, threatening their food security and livelihoods. In response, several field trials and clean energy initiatives in Kenya have introduced biochar for improving soil conditions, boosting yields, cleaner cooking fuel and mitigating climate change. Yet uptake among smallholders remains low. Existing research largely emphasises agronomic and climate outcomes, offering little understanding of how farmers view biochar in relation to their daily sustainability challenges. Without this perspective, dissemination may remain top-down and poorly aligned with local realities, limiting meaningful uptake. Drawing on qualitative methods, specifically focus group discussions and key informant interviews, this study investigates how smallholder farmers in Embu and Kwale counties perceive sustainability, situate biochar within these local dimensions, and identify barriers and enablers to its adoption.
Reflective thematic analysis of the study revealed that farmers’ understanding of sustainability is grounded in lived realities expressed through continuity, resilience, and dignity amid precarious ecologies, fragile economies, and institutional neglect.
Biochar emerged as both a promising agricultural input and a symbolic source of hope. Farmers valued it for improving soil fertility, water retention, pest control, yields, reducing chemical fertiliser dependence, and enhancing agency. Engagement was shaped by visible results, hands-on experimentation, and peer learning. Experiences varied: farmers gained confidence through trials, while farmers new to biochar relied on community narratives, and youth viewed biochar entrepreneurially. Women acknowledged its health benefits as a cleaner cooking fuel; however, food security remained the overriding priority. While institutional actors often prioritise material needs, they frequently overlook farmers’ emotional and symbolic dimensions like trust, hope, autonomy, and a sense of control, which shape cautious engagement with innovations and their adoption.
Adoption was uneven, influenced more by social, emotional, cultural, and institutional realities than technical performance. Limited access to knowledge, training, gender norms, and resource constraints shaped uptake, showing that willingness is not the barrier; systemic inequalities and institutional gaps are. Top-down initiatives, hesitation toward external actors, and past experiences with soil-degrading fertilisers fostered cautious innovation, while farmers’ demand for ongoing training reflected a desire to build self-resilience and autonomy. Persistent gendered expectations linked biochar use to women’s domestic roles, embedding adoption within broader social structures. Turning biochar’s promise into practice requires sustained, farmer-centred training, gender-sensitive approaches, supportive institutional relationships, and equitable access to feedstock, markets, and guidance. Adoption is shaped not only by material capital and observable results but also by social influence, affective experiences, and power dynamics. Hope, frustration, and dignity play influential roles. Integrating technical, social, and institutional perspectives can help biochar move from fragile experimentation toward sustainable agricultural transformation, benefiting local livelihoods and contributing to climate change mitigation
Places for pause : interventions as destinations on Stora Alvaret
Full text linkI arbetet undersöks hur målpunkter kan gestaltas på Stora Alvaret i världsarvet Södra Ölands odlingslandskap, genom ett utforskande och intuitivt baserat arbetssätt. Syftet är att visa hur tilläggen kan bidra till att göra landskapet mer inbjudande och mentalt tillgängligt, samtidigt som Alvarets karaktär respekteras och lyfts fram. I arbetet har en empirisk metod använts med vandring som tillvägagångssätt för att generera platsspecifik kunskap. Genom vandringen kunde tre platser väljas ut där tillägg föreslås att uppföras. Platsvalen baseras på förutbestämda platskriteriter som innefattade rumsligt karaktär, avstånd mellan platser samt landskapskaraktärens representation av Alvaret. Platserna utgjorde grunden för ett gestaltningsförslag i tre delar, Tröskeln, Snåret och Väten, som tillsammans utgör en vandringsled mellan Karlevi och Möckelmossen i Stora Alvarets nordliga delar.
Tröskeln är ett tillägg placerat vid en höjdrygg intill Stora alvarleden strax utanför Karlevi, där många påbörjar sina vandringar. Tillägget utgörs av en terrasserad platå i fyra sektioner och fungerar som samlingspunkt, sittplats och utsiktsplats. Tröskelns formspråk inspireras av Alvarets stensättningar med stora rösen och resta kalkstenar. Genom att passas in höjdryggens sluttning smälter tillägget in i landskapet sett från ena hållet medan det syns på långt håll från motsatt sida.
Snåret är ett vindskydd placerat på Alvarets mitt i en grund skålformation omgiven av täta buskridåer. Vindskyddet ligger i ett skyddat läge i ett släpp mellan enbuskagen. Det utdragna formspråket speglar det avlånga rum vindskyddet står i. Vindskyddet har en roterande axel som gör konstruktionen går att tippa för att erbjuda lä från både östliga och västliga vindar. Snåret erbjuder en plats för övernattning, umgänge och en möjlighet att ta del av Alvarets mäktiga stjärnhimmel.
Väten är ett tillägg i två delar vars syfte är att tillgängliggöra och framhäva vattenlandskapet på Alvaret. Tilläggen utgörs av spänger som sicksackar sig fram i vattnet till skulpturala sittmoduler. Sittmodulerna har en cirkulär form som skapar en flersidighet, antingen riktas besökaren ut mot det vida landskapet eller inåt för en mer intim upplevelse. Om vintern när vattnet fryser blir Väten en utgångspunkt för skridskoåkning.This project explores how landmarks can be designed on Stora Alvaret, within the World Heritage site of Southern Öland’s agricultural landscape, through an exploratory and intuitive design approach. The aim is to demonstrate how such additions can make the landscape more inviting and mentally accessible, while at the same time respecting and highlighting the character of the Alvar. An empirical method was used, with walking as a key tool for generating site-specific knowledge. Through these walks, three sites were selected for proposed interventions, based on predetermined criteria including spatial character, distance between sites, and representativeness of the Alvar landscape. The selected sites form the basis for a three-part design proposal—Tröskeln, Snåret, and Väten—which together create a trail between Karlevi and Möckelmossen in the northern parts of Stora Alvaret.
Tröskeln is placed on a ridge along the Stora Alvar trail, just outside Karlevi, where many visitors begin their hikes. It consists of a terraced platform with four levels, functioning as a meeting point, seating, and lookout. Its design draws inspiration from the stone formations of the Alvar, with large cairns and erected limestone slabs. Integrated into the slope of the ridge, it blends with the landscape when viewed from one side, while standing out as a landmark from the other.
Snåret is a windshelter situated in a shallow bowl-shaped formation in the middle of the Alvar, enclosed by dense thickets. Positioned discreetly in an opening between juniper bushes, the shelter’s elongated design reflects the narrow space it occupies. Built with a rotating axis, its construction can be tilted to provide protection from either easterly or westerly winds. Snåret offers a place for overnight stays, social gatherings, and for experiencing the Alvar’s magnificent starry sky.
Väten consists of two interventions aimed at making the water landscape accessible and tangible. Zig-zagging boardwalks lead visitors across the wetlands to sculptural circular seating modules. Their form creates two modes of experience—outward-facing, towards the vast landscape, or inward-facing, for a more intimate and social atmosphere. In winter, when the water freezes, Väten becomes a starting point for ice skating
The Sun as an investment: What could happen when subsidies disappear?
Full text linkThe study investigates the effect of government investment subsidies for solar panels on household investment behavior and electricity consumption in single-family homes in Sweden. Using panel data from 2010 to 2023 across Swedish counties, a quantitative approach is applied by combining Fixed Effects regression with a Difference-in-Differences design to estimate both direct and indirect effects of a subsidy form.
Results show that the removal of the investment subsidy in 2021 led to a statistically significant decrease in both the number of solar panel installations and installed capacity. On average, the number of new installations per county declined by approximately 3.8 units annually, representing a drop of up to 25-35% in some regions. Although no significant direct effect on electricity consumption was observed, the analysis reveals a clear indirect effect. Households that installed solar panels reduced their electricity consumption from the grid by an average of 1.77% per additional installation.
The findings indicate that government subsidies play a critical role in driving technology adaptation and indirectly influence household energy behaviour. The study highlights the importance of considering both technical and behavioural mechanisms in the evaluation of climate policy instruments and supports the design of long-term, economically effective, and socially inclusive renewable energy policies
Förvaltning av stadsdammar för förbättrad dagvattenhantering och biologisk mångfald : avvägningar, praxis och roller i urbana sammanhang
Full text linkThe focus of the study is on pond management in urban areas for the better control of stormwater runoffs, as well as increasing biodiversity in urban areas. Although there is an increasing number of implementations of the concept of urban ponds, there is scant literature available on the management aspects of these structures once the pond is constructed. The question the study seeks to answer is: What roles and management practices support stormwater mitigation and biodiversity enhancement in urban ponds?
A qualitative method is used, with the study depending on secondary sources from the academic literature. The secondary data is systematically analyzed, with the six steps provided by Braun & Clarke followed in the process of determining the themes from the study. The themes emanating from the study are the role of urban ponds in the conservation of freshwater biodiversity, the management of stormwater runoff, as well as sustainability in the urban environment.
The themes that emerged from the analysis are three: (1) the ecological role of urban ponds in the support of freshwater biota, (2) the technical management practices necessary to maintain stormwater regulation, and (3) the social aspects of the maintenance process, which establish the nexus with policy support.
The importance of maintenance, the control of water quality, and the involvement of specialized equipment or personnel is made clear by the study results. Good management practices, including the prevention of pollution or the provision of habitat, are necessary for the achievement of stormwater management, as well as the protection of biodiversity
Forest management methods in boreal forests – Comparison of profitability and the occurrence of various ecosystem services in the long-term experiment at Leksberget, Siljansfors
Full text linkSkogen och ekosystemtjänsterna den producerar är en viktig del av det svenska samhället och dess ekonomi. Trakthyggesbruk, med fokus på den försörjande ekosystemtjänsten virkesproduktion, har sedan mitten på nittonhundratalet varit det dominerande skogsskötselsystemet i Sverige. 2018 formulerade Näringsdepartementet en målsättning att skogsbruket ska bedrivas med hänsyn till skogens olika försörjande, reglerande, kulturella och stödjande ekosystemtjänster. Ett sätt att nå målsättningen är att skogen sköts med olika skogsskötselsystem och metoder.
Syftet med denna studie var att jämföra virkesproduktion, artförekomst i fältskikt, bärproduktion, kollagring i stående virkesförråd samt intäkter och kostnader mellan olika skogsskötselmetoder. Jämförelsen gjordes mellan fem olika bestånd som har skötts med olika skogsskötselmetoder i ett långtidsförsök på Leksberget i Siljansfors försökspark. Skogsskötselmetoderna som jämförs är: i) trakthyggesbruk med föryngringsmetod plantering respektive ii) självsådd, iii) blädning, iv) dimensionshuggning samt v) orörd skog.
Studien utfördes med beståndsdata insamlat sommaren 2024 från långtidsförsöket Leksberget 9022. Virkesvolym, bärproduktion samt artförekomst i fältskiktet uppskattades i fält och kompletterades med tidigare fältdata från långtidsförsöket 9022, samt med historiska skogsstatistiska underlag för kostnader och intäkter.
Resultaten visade att metoden trakthyggesbruk som föryngrats med plantering haft högst total virkesproduktion. De två trakthyggesbestånden hade även högre avverkningsnetto än de övriga tre bestånden. Även artförekomsten i fältskiktet var högre i de båda trakthyggesbestånden. Den högsta blåbärsproduktionen inmättes i trakthyggesbeståndet som föryngrats med plantering. Traktshyggesbeståndens högre avverkningsnetto, artförekomst och blåbärsproduktion kan förklaras med att dessa vid mättillfället befann sig i ungskogsfasen efter en avverkning som utfördes 2008.
Slutsatser som kan dras från studien är att vid Leksberget i Siljansfors har trakthyggesbruk haft en högre virkesproduktion än blädning. Dessutom påverkas tillgången på olika ekosystemtjänster och den ekonomiska avkastningen av tidpunkten i omloppstiden som trakthyggesbruket befinner sig i.Forests and the ecosystem services they produce are an important part of Swedish society and its economy. Since the mid-twentieth century, the dominant forest management system in Sweden has been clearcutting, with a focus on the provisioning ecosystem service of timber production. In 2018, the Swedish government formulated a goal that forestry should be conducted with consideration for the forest's various provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting ecosystem services. One way to achieve this goal is to manage the forest using different forest management systems and methods.
The objective of this study was to compare between different silvicultural practices the costs and benefits, as well as the ecosystem services timber production, species richness in the field layer, blueberry production and carbon sequestration in the standing timber. This comparison was made using five different stands managed with different silvicultural practices in a long-term experiment at Leksberget in Siljansfors experimental park. The forest management methods compared were: i) clearcutting with tree planting and ii) self-seeding, iii) selective cutting, iv) dimensional felling and v) unmanaged forest.
The study was conducted with stand data from the long-term experiment Leksberget 9022, collected in the summer of 2024. Timber volume, berry production and species occurrence in the field layer were estimated in the field and supplemented with previous field data from the long-term experiment 9022, as well as with historical forest statistics for costs and revenues.
The results showed that the clearcut method rejuvenated with tree planting had the highest total timber production. The two clearcut stands also had higher net return than the other three stands. The abundance of species in the field layer was also higher in the two clearcut stands. The highest blueberry production was recorded in the clearcut stand rejuvenated by planting. The higher timber net value, species occurrence and blueberry production in the clearcut stands can be explained by the fact that they were in the young forest phase at the time of measurement after being clearcut in 2008.
Conclusions that can be drawn from the study are that at Leksberget in Siljansfors, clearcutting has had higher timber production than selective cutting. In addition, the availability of various ecosystem services and the economic return are affected by the time period in the rotation cycle that the clearcut stand is in
Legitimacy claims on forest management and Key Habitats : an interview study on the legitimacy claims in the Swedish forest sector
Full text linkForest management and land use are an important part of the environmental challenges we face. Forests are important for species and the ecological systems they are part of, but they have also been a source of debate in recent years. This thesis uses interviews to explore the legitimacy claims made by different actors in the forest sector to justify their actions, and how these claims affect the management of forests in general and Key Habitats in particular. By drawing on previous research on legitimacy and natural resource management, different claims to legitimacy can be identified and analysed (Greene 2017; Rantala 2012; Sikor & Lund 2010). A key finding of the study is that legitimacy claims are made through legal legitimacy, both through property rights and international agreements. Another key finding is how different actors absorb and emphasise knowledge and how forests hold heritage and cultural values. Finally, this thesis shows how different claims to legitimacy affect forest management and how they relate to each other in terms of normative and empirical argumentation. The management of forests and Key Habitats is important for how we tackle climate change and respond to land use challenges
The energy transition will take time, but it is in progress and we are working hard : a study on farmers' attitudes and conditions for implementing an energy transition
Full text linkI relation till att jordbrukssektorn står inför en energiomställning undersöker den här uppsatsen lantbrukares inställning, möjligheter och hinder inför övergången till förnybara energikällor. Genom att bättre förstå lantbrukares syn på energiomställningen kan kunskaperna öka om hur effektiva strategier bör utvecklas och implementeras på gårdsnivå för att främja en hållbar övergång och utveckling mot en fossilfri sektor. Studien utgörs av nio kvalitativa intervjuer med både kvinnor och män för att fånga ett bredare perspektiv. Studien visar att de intervjuade lantbrukarna har en positiv inställning till energiomställningen och att de gör vad de kan för att ställa om utifrån sina (ekonomiska) förutsättningar. Lantbrukarna har en gemensam inställning att politiker är orealistiska vad gäller hur snabbt omställningen förväntas ske och att politiken inte är tillräckligt långsiktig. Studien framför att det går se att de traditionella genusnormerna finns närvarande. Energiomställningen skapar en gemensam plattform där de traditionellt manligt kodade intressena kring ny teknik och de traditionellt kvinnligt kodade intressena för miljö och hållbarhet möts i en gemensam positiv inställning till energiomställningen. Om inte lantbruket varit en verksamhet som kräver relativt stora investeringar i förhållande till inkomsterna och där det ofta står en enskild eller ett fåtal personer bakom företaget, så hade lantbrukare kanske kunnat vara tidigare och mer offensiva i att investera för energiomställning. Den här uppsatsen lyfter lantbrukarnas utmaningar och möjligheter till att göra en energiomställning och framför allt bekräftar uppsatsen att det finns en vilja och ett driv för att ställa om.In relation to the agricultural sector facing an energy transition, this paper examines farmers' attitudes, opportunities and barriers towards the transition to renewable energy sources. By better understanding farmers' views on the energy transition, knowledge can be increased on how to develop and implement effective strategies at farm level to promote a sustainable transition and development towards a fossil-free sector. The study consists of nine qualitative interviews with both women and men to get a wider perspective. The study shows that the interviewed farmers have a positive attitude towards the energy transition and that they do what they think is possible within their own financial means. The farmers share the view that politicians are unrealistic about how quickly the transition is expected to happen and that policies are not sufficiently long-term. The study suggests that it is possible to see that traditional gender norms are present. The energy transition creates a common platform where the traditionally male-coded interests in new technology and the traditionally female-coded interests in the environment and sustainability unite in a common positive attitude to the energy transition. Maybe farmers could have been earlier and more assertive in their investments for an energy transition if it had not been for the fact that farming demands relatively large investments compared to the earnings, and that there is often only a single or a few persons behind the business. This paper highlights the challenges and opportunities for farmers to make an energy transition and, above all, the paper confirms that there is a will and a drive to make such a transition
Assessing the Impact of Deforestation on Community Livelihood : a Case Study of Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality, Ghana
Full text linkBackground: Forest resources contribute significantly to household incomes, energy, and food security, providing sustenance and revenue for about 2.5 million people in Ghana. However, deforestation has been a long-standing issue that has affected forests and biodiversity conservation. Little attention has been drawn to deforestation and its associated implications on forest-based livelihoods, though two-thirds of Ghana’s population depends on forests and forest resources for their livelihoods.
Method: The study employed quantitative and qualitative methods. Primary data was collected from 80 respondents in the Bibiani-Awhiaso-Bekwai communities through a field survey. A chi-square test was conducted to analyze quantitative data, and content analysis was adopted for qualitative data.
Results: Farming, NTFPs picking, wood harvesting, hunting, and gathering firewood were the forest-based livelihoods identified. Most participants described the forest's condition as highly degraded and very highly degraded. Deforestation negatively affects the participants' livelihood activities, reducing crop yield due to drought, scarce NTFPs, bush animals, and wood species. Furthermore, the participants lamented that deforestation reduced their income from forest-based livelihood activities. They described their economic well-being as the same, little affected, and worse by various social groups. The concepts of support for current consumption, safety net, and the theory of sustainable livelihood framework further discussed these results.
Conclusion: Deforestation adversely affects forest-based livelihood activities, which rural people depend on for sustenance. Hence, a sustainable and all-inclusive management system should be adopted, measures of accountability and regulation of powerful actors instituted, and power decentralized to the local people to sustainably manage the forest resources and achieve the concept of rural development