How does nature benefit people of the Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka Biosphere Reserve?
Description of the project
Stretching from the mountainous Norwegian border in the west to the forested central region to the coastal lowlands in the east, the way in which people in the Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka Biosphere Reserve value nature is very diverse. Nature promotes timber and agricultural production, provides clean water and opportunities to harvest wild berries and mushrooms, supports fishing and reindeer husbandry, and offers opportunities for recreation, cultural traditions, and improved mental health by simply enjoying the tranquillity of the outdoors. This project distributed an ecosystem services survey that was administered across the Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka Biosphere Reserve. This involved organizing and delivering workshops at local libraries and community halls.
Results and effects
This project used a transdisciplinary approach to implement participatory mapping of ecosystem services – regulating, provisioning and cultural – across the Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka Biosphere Reserve.
Based on hundreds of respondents, and thousands of mapped ecosystem services, the project identified hotspots of different valued services, including the value of cultural heritage, outdoor recreation, biodiversity, mental well-being, and agricultural/forestry values to diverse stakeholders.
This project is part of a broader international effort involving multiple biosphere reserves in Norway (Nordhordland Biosphere), Finland (North Karelia Biosphere Reserve) and Sweden (Kristianstads Vattenrike). By understanding how and where people, whether residents or visitors, benefit from nature, the project aimed to better preserve, develop, and support the Vindelälven-Juhttátahkka Biosphere Reserve both now and in the future.