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Accessible nature: Balancing contradiction in protected areas
Mid Sweden University, Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of Economics, Geography, Law and Tourism.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8243-9046
2024 (English)In: Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, ISSN 2514-8486, E-ISSN 2514-8494 , Vol. 7, no 5, p. 2036-2057Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Physical and social barriers have long hindered people with disabilities from full participation in outdoor recreation and nature experiences. As spending time in nature, where protected areas constitute an important arena for nature engagement, is increasingly connected to improved health and well-being, there is a need for nature activities and experiences in protected areas to become more accessible and inclusive. However, the provision of accessible protected areas for outdoor recreation and nature activities poses challenges for planners and managers of such areas, as there are elements of contradiction between interests of accessibility and nature conservation. This qualitative study examines how providers of nature experiences and outdoor activities, such as governmental authorities, outdoor recreation associations and nature-based tourism entrepreneurs in Sweden view and practice the balancing of these interests, through perspectives of the social construction of nature, inclusion, and collaboration. Findings indicate that interests in nature conservation generally take precedence over measures of accessibility and that such initiatives are directed to a few, designated areas. There is also an apparent lack of knowledge about how people with disabilities wish to engage with nature, which hinders full access to nature. It is therefore important to include people with disabilities in the process of developing accessibility in protected areas and promote collaboration between stakeholders, to avoid excluding decisions. The study concludes by stating the necessity to challenge the viewpoint of accessible infrastructure for outdoor activities in protected areas as ‘ruining’ the nature experience, in order for access to nature to become a truly democratic right.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
SAGE Publications , 2024. Vol. 7, no 5, p. 2036-2057
National Category
Social and Economic Geography
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-51999DOI: 10.1177/25148486241263403ISI: 001274431000001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85199397632OAI: oai:DiVA.org:miun-51999DiVA, id: diva2:1885601
Available from: 2024-07-24 Created: 2024-07-24 Last updated: 2024-11-08Bibliographically approved

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Godtman Kling, Kristin

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CiteExportLink to record
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Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
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  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
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  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
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  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
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  • asciidoc
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