By Swedish authorities, noise is perceived as a management issue of growing importance. For example, the Swedish EPA has declared that the level of unwanted sounds is increasing while areas with natural sounds of quality are diminishing. This concerns several stakeholders (e.g. visitors) within outdoor recreation, who perceive the minimizing of noise of particular value. However, whether the visitors actually are experiencing noise, if they experience noise as a conflict, and what management tools are used to handle potential conflicts, remain to be examined more closely.
In the present study, noise and natural quiet in the mountain region of Jämtland, Sweden are examined from a visitor perspective. Skiers and snowmobilers have been identified as twostakeholder groups of particular interest. Based upon a web-based questionnaire in spring 2015, their attitudes and experiences of noise, conflicts and activities are examined. Are there any conflicts between these two groups? What are their attitudes to handle noise conflicts? How do they experience and define natural quiet? The results may also be compared with an earlier study in southern Jämtland (Lindberg et al., 2001). To get a planning and management perspective, semi-structured qualitative interviews with various authorities in Jämtland are to be executed in spring and fall 2015. This study is part of a project in the research programme A magnificent mountain landscape for future generations financed by the Swedish EPA.