Vitality of Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) in southwest Sweden

Non-native tree species provide alternatives for forestry that needs to adapt to climate change and multiple public demands. In Sweden, Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) is a non-native tree species with potential, both in wood production and as a support to biodiversity in woodlands and in urban settings. However, due to its invasiveness it can also become a threat. The aim of this study is to contribute new knowledge about the current condition of Sycamore maple populations in southern Sweden. The focus was on comparing the status of the trees in urban and woodland settings and finding indicators for associated biodiversity (epiphyte coverage) and vitality (growth parameters and visible damage), with special attention to detecting potential first symptoms and signs of the pathogen Cryptostroma corticale which causes the lethal disease Sooty bark disease (SBD) in Sycamore maple. The method includes a literature study and a field study. In the field study 320 sycamore maple trees were visually examined for a set of vitality and biodiversity indicators (crown status, symptoms and signs of pests and pathogens) in two urban settings (Malmö, Helsingborg) and two woodland settings (Torup, Skabersjö) in southern Sweden. The surveyed Sycamore maples showed consistently high vitality, and most trees with reduced crown conditions were in urban settings. Urban trees also hosted a higher coverage of trunk-dwelling epiphytic lichens and mosses. No signs of the presence of the pathogen Cryptostroma corticale were detected on any of the surveyed trees. The study sheds light on the characteristics of Sycamore maples, its use as an urban tree, a replacement tree and as a component in admixtures. It also provides a baseline and valuable insights to design strategies for the species introduction and management in order to minimize any negative ecological effects

Att synliggöra filter för perception : en intervjuundersökning med ledande landskapsarkitekter om deras plats tillvägagångssätt

The starting point for this work is an interest in the concepts of genius loci, intuition and unconventional site analysis. Since the 70s, the genius loci has had a definition in landscape architectural theory, but the contemporary attitudes on the concept as well as its implementation in practice are less illuminated in research. During the education, there was also a conflict between the site analyzes of the curriculum and several personal experiences on sites. By doing interviews with landscape architects in practice, this work investigates attitudes and implications of site analysis, genius loci and intuition. The aim is also to provoke the established approach of site analysis by highlighting some unconventional methods. The conduct includes a qualitative interview study with six architects and a literature study that conveys some theories on place, intuition and unconventional methods. What characterizes site analysis are predominantly visual and technically oriented methods. The previous relation to the site together with the cultural context are also raised and affect the expectation of how the site is perceived. The concept of genius loci is used by most architects and relates mostly to the conditions, background and history of the site. It is also considered a keyword for the conceptualization of the project, a personal approach to the profession, and in some cases links to the "soft values" of the site. Intuition is conceptualized in the design depending on the various steps of the work process, as well as the designer's conscious attitude about it. In some cases, it is raised as an aid in defining the genius loci. The literature study illustrates the unconventional methods of Chinese feng shui, Roman geomancy, and describe the approach of two site workers (one bioenergetic counselor and one dowser). Regarding site analysis, the work gives insight on the importance of making a clear distinction between its different parts and raising the awareness on their implications. This also links to the presented unconventional methods, whose value to landscape architecture is the opportunity to think in a different way in regards to the site. This, since the work indicates that the approach to site influences its analysis and consequently its design. Emphasizing what is embedded in the experience of the site at an early stage may deepen the understanding of it, as well as helping to define the genius loci. At last, this work seeks to inspire a more holistic approach to site, where both intuition and a sensory oriented perception can be tools to achieve this goal.Utgångspunkten för detta arbete är ett intresse för begreppen genius loci, intuition och okonventionell platsanalys. Sedan 70-talet har genius loci haft en definition i landskapsarkitektur teori, men de samtida attityderna till konceptet och dess implementering i praktiken är mindre beaktade i forskning. Under utbildningen upplevdes också en konflikt mellan de i kurserna utlärda platsanalyserna och flera personliga upplevelser på platser. Genom intervjuer med landskapsarkitekter i praktiken undersöker detta arbete attityder och konsekvenser av platsanalys, genius loci och intuition. Målet är också att provocera den etablerade metoden för platsanalys genom att lyfta fram några okonventionella sätt. Arbetet inkluderar en kvalitativ intervjustudie med sex arkitekter och en litteraturstudie som förmedlar vissa teorier om plats, intuition och okonventionella metoder. Det som kännetecknar platsanalysen är främst visuellt- och tekniskt orienterade metoder. Det tidigare förhållandet till platsen tillsammans med det kulturella sammanhanget lyfts också och anses påverka förväntningen av hur platsen uppfattas. Begreppet genius loci används av de flesta arkitekterna och relateras främst till platsens förhållanden, bakgrund och historia. Det anses också som ett nyckelord för konceptualiseringen av projektet, en personlig inställning till yrket och i vissa fall koppla till platsens "mjuka värden". Intuition konceptualiseras i designen beroende på de olika stegen i arbetsprocessen, samt designerns medvetna inställning till denna. I vissa fall ses det som ett hjälpmedel för att definiera genius loci. Litteraturstudien illustrerar de okonventionella metoderna kinesisk feng shui, romersk geomantik, och beskriver tillvägagångssättet för två platsarbetare (en bioenergetisk rådgivare och en slagruteman). När det gäller platsanalys ger arbetet insikt om vikten av att göra en tydlig distinktion mellan dess olika delar och öka medvetenheten om deras respektive innebörd. Detta länkar också till de presenterade okonventionella metoderna, vars värde för landskapsarkitektur är möjligheten att tänka på ett annat sätt gällande platsen. Detta eftersom arbetet indikerar att tillvägagångssättet av plats påverkar dess analys och följaktligen dess design. Att betona vad som ligger i upplevelsen av platsen i ett tidigt skede kan fördjupa förståelsen av denna, samt hjälpa till att definiera genius loci. Till sist syftar detta arbete till att inspirera till en mer holistisk syn på plats, där både intuition och en sensoriskt inriktad perception kan vara verktyg för att uppnå detta mål

The differentiation of the general shoreline protection : an examination of attitudes in the municipalities Gagnef and Berg

Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka hur Gagnefs kommun och Bergs kommun arbetar med det generella strandskyddet, vilka attityder till detta som finns i kommunerna och hur arbetet påverkar landsbygdsutvecklingen. Särskilt fokus läggs på hanteringen av små sjöar och vattendrag. Undersökningen har skett med hjälp av en kvalitativ metod som innefattar intervjuer med markägare och tjänstemän från kommunerna samt observationer. Analysen utgår från Garrett Hardins begrepp tragedy of the commons, Elinor Ostroms begrepp common-pool resources och open access resources samt Bo Rothsteins begrepp sociala fällor och tillit. Slutsatsen med uppsatsen är att Gagnefs kommun och Bergs kommuner arbetar olika med strandskyddet gällande små sjöar och vattendrag. En majoritet av informanterna anser att det generella strandskyddet endast ska omfatta naturliga vattendrag, samt att strandskyddet bör vara mer flexibelt på landsbygden än i storstäderna. Flexibiliteten innebär exempelvis att strandskyddets regelverk ska anpassas till platsen och inte tillämpas generellt över hela landet.The aim of this thesis is to examine how the municipalities Gagnef and Berg work with the general shoreline protection, what attitudes towards it are present in the municipalities, and how the work affects rural development. Small lakes and streams are given extra focus. The examination is done with a qualitative method that consists of interviews with the landowners and officials from the municipalities, in combination with observations. The analysis stems from Garrett Hardins concept tragedy of the commons, Elinor Ostroms concepts common-pool resources and open access resources, and Bo Rothsteins concepts of social traps and trust. The conclusions are that the municipalities of Gagnef and Berg work differently with the shoreline protection for small lakes and streams. A majority of informants think that the general shoreline protection only should include natural waters and that the shoreline protection should be more flexible on the countryside than in the big cities. The flexibility means for example that the shoreline protection regulations should be based on the location and not be implemented in the same way all over Sweden

Continuous Cover Forestry methods for the development of social values within an urban foest Project Vätteskogen in Skinnskattebergs minicipality : project Vätteskogen in Skinnskattebergs minicipality

The forest offers a variety of benefits and services that contribute to increased human well-being, biodiversity and economic welfare. In parallel with our country's ongoing urbanization, the distance between people and nature is also increasing. The value of accessible nature has thus increased in recent decades. At the same time, studies and press analyzes indicate a growing public interest in both forest and Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF). It´s estimated that a special potential for the application of CCF is found within the country's urban areas. However, Swedish forestry generally lacks knowledge and practical applications of CCF methods. This deficiency motivates the creation of management plans that include CCF in urban nature. The objective of the study was thus to propose methods of CCF with regard to the social, ecological and economic values of Vätteskogen, an urban forest bordering the community of Skinnskatteberg. Based on areas with identified high social values, the secondary objective of the study was to create a basis for the future management of Vätteskogen which strengthens all of the forest’s values. The study process comprised a literature study, field inventory and a decision support tool. In this study, selective felling, gap-cutting and shelterwood cutting were the most frequently proposed methods within the management of Vätteskogen. Of these methods, selective felling was the most suggested. One of the challenges was to find methods that favor pioneer trees such as pine and deciduous trees. In addition, five site-specific areas of particular importance emerged for its management. Some of the study's conclusions were that Vätteskogen should be characterized by adaptive, varied and recreation-modified planning strategies. The importance of applying specific classes within the forests management plan that clarify its social values was also highlighted. In addition, Vätteskogen's exceptional opportunities for accommodating CCF reference forests for educational purposes was emphasized

The healing factor of the garden : a comparison between the rehabilitation gardens of Alnarp, Gröna Rehab and Nynäs slott

Kandidatuppsatsen skrevs på institutionen för Stad och Land, Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet under vårterminen 2017, med syftet att identifiera en checklista för rehabiliteringsträdgårdar utifrån Alnarpsmetoden och använda den till att analysera och jämföra tre rehabiliteringsträdgårdar med avseende på utformning, plats och aktiviteter. Tre väletablerade rehabiliteringsträdgårdar i Sverige jämfördes, den vid Nynäs slott i Tystberga, Gröna rehab i Göteborg och trädgården i Alnarp. Metoden utgjordes av en förstudie för att identifiera checklistan utifrån Alnarpsmetoden, platsbesök, samt en analys med hjälp av kartor och en tabell. Checklistan sammanställde sex punkter: Naturen som ledord, Variation i rumsligheter, Teamet kring trädgården, Rogivande och meningsfulla aktiviteter och aktiviteter som ger motion, Trygghetskänsla på platsen och Stimulans för alla sinnen. Arbetet visade bland annat att samtliga trädgårdar uppfyller checklistan helt eller delvis. Verktyget kan vara tillämpbart för att analysera hur en rehabiliteringsträdgård är uppbyggd utifrån Alnarpsmetoden och kan därigenom ge en snabb uppfattning om en rehabiliteringsträdgårds utformning och funktion. Några punkter var för komplexa för att kunna analyseras på ett tillfredsställande vis, vilket påverkade trovärdigheten för dessa punkter.This bachelor thesis was written at the Department of Urban and Rural Development at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences during the Spring term of 2017, with the intention of identifying a checklist for rehabilitation gardens based on the Alnarpmethod and using it to analyze and compare three rehabilitation gardens in regards to design, location and activities. In the analysis, we originated from three well-established rehabilitation gardens in Sweden, namely the one at Nynäs castle in Tystberga, Gröna Rehab in Gothenburg and the rehabilitation garden in Alnarp. The method consisted of a preliminary study to identify the checklist based on the Alnarp method, site visits, and an analysis using maps and a table. The checklist compiled six points: Nature as a Keyword, Variation in space, The working Team around the Garden, Soothing and Meaningful Activities and Activities that provide Exercise, The Sense of Security of the Site and Stimulus for All the Senses. The conclusion showed that all gardens meet the points of the checklist in whole or in part. The tool may be applicable in order to analyze how a rehabilitation garden works and meet six selected points. These six points can give a quick idea of the design and functionality of a rehabilitation garden, but as some of the points were too complex to be analyzed satisfactorily, this affected their credibility