Mid Sweden University

Walking in nature contributes to older adults’ well-being, yet policy and spatial planning often overlook older adults’ sensory experiences and needs in nature. Using the therapeutic landscape framework, this study explores how walking becomes a multisensory and emotionally resonant practice for older people. Drawing on focus groups with older adults aged 65–80 in Sweden and Italy, we analyse everyday and extraordinary walking experiences. Findings show that walking supports routines, social bonding, and mindfulness, while also facilitating reflection and intergenerational connection in scenic settings. We advocate for planning approaches that address and integrate older adults’ multisensory experiences, recognising walking as a therapeutic engagement with nature. The study contributes to health geography by foregrounding older adults’ lived experiences of walking and supporting age-friendly planning.

In mountainous landscapes, where visitor numbers are increasing, it is essential to balance biodiversity conservation, indigenous practices, and visitor experiences through planning and management. Our study investigates visitor experiences, attitudes, and awareness of ecological impacts in the Jämtland mountains, Sweden. In summer 2021, we conducted two qualitative landscape observations, a quantitative study, collecting 253 contact cards, and conducting 13 semi-structured interviews with hikers. Findings revealed that wear and tear was the most prevalent issue, followed by overcrowding. Despite concerns about wildlife impacts, reindeer sightings were anticipated and cherished, seen as integral to the visitor experience. Concerns were raised regarding the Right of Public Access. Opinions on management tools like zoning restrictions were mixed, with support for monitoring but concern about implications. Views on visitation fees varied, emphasising equitable access and voluntary contributions. Education and information were viewed positively, as was the importance of greater understanding of Sami culture. The results underscore the need for further studies on synergies among land-use interests to support multifunctional landscapes that benefit biodiversity and society while recognising recreation’s positive impacts. In this context, the Visitor Use Management framework may offer a practical approach to managing this socio-ecological system of multiple values.

Chapter highlights

– Discusses the significance of nature to human wellbeing from the perspective of older adults and their continuous engagement with outdoor experiences.

– Highlights the need for accessible nature close to home and how communities can support sustained nature-based experiences and active ageing.

– Collaboration across sectors is essential to address knowledge exchange, cost-sharing, and provision of accessible nature-based activities.

– Incorporating the diverse preferences and needs of citizens into planning processes is essential for achieving age-friendly green spaces and recreational areas.

Chapter highlights

– Empirically examines digital information as an enabler for improving accessibility to nature environments.

– Identifies and addresses communication improvements for accessible nature-based activities for people with disabilities.

– Reveals that detailed, accurate, and reliable online information is crucial for planning and participating in nature-based tourism and outdoor recreation.

– Managers show a weak understanding of holistic travel experiences, as details on transport, outdoor activities, and facilities are often absent.

– Accessibility is enhanced through collaboration between interest organisations, companies, and the public sector.

Nature-based attractions in the Swedish mountains, as in other similar areas in the Nordic and Arctic countries, have experienced a rapid growth in visitors, causing enhanced environmental damage, crowding, and pressure on infrastructure, resources, residents, and other land-users. Increased nature-based tourism creates a range of challenges leading to a need to balance benefits and challenges of tourism on communities and nature. This chapter aims to raise contemporary tourism governance challenges in the Swedish subarctic mountains by providing examples of conflicts of interests and different goals and agendas grounded in recent changes. Based on empirical material from interviews and stakeholder meetings, the chapter highlights the existing multi-actor complexity, implications of changing visitor patterns, and tourism impacts and responsibilities in governing those impacts. We end by discussing sustainability priorities, the public sector’s role in tourism development, strategic planning, collaboration, and responsibilities facing subarctic mountain communities.

Outdoor recreation is important for the society in Sweden but lacks clear integration into policies and alignment with other goals, particularly environmental quality (Peterson-Forsberg, 2014). Increasing outdoor activities raise concerns about environmental impacts, crowding, infrastructure strain, and land use conflicts. Ankre (2019) and Emmelin et al. (2010) stress the need for improved incorporation of outdoor recreation into land and water planning to ensure access to nature, address conflicting interests, and minimize environmental impacts, for example, wear and tear, wildlife disturbances, and emissions (Marion et al., 2016). This paper analyses outdoor recreation in spatial planning, focusing on environmental aspects in regional and local land use policies also acknowledging connections to national and international policies, which is important for the understanding of multi-functional landscapes. 

Idrotts- och fritidsaktiviteter som tidigare praktiserades utomhus kan idag utövas i uppbyggda landskap och inomhusanläggningar, såsom forspaddling i konstgjorda forsar och skidåkning inomhus. Vad som uppfattas som konstgjorda och naturliga miljöer för idrott och fritid förändras över tid. Forskning om idrottens föränderliga och utbytbara arenor och dess koppling till klimat, hälsa och social inkludering ägnas allt mer uppmärksamhet. Hur kan idrotts-och fritidsanläggningars naturlighet och konstgjordhet förstås och vilken betydelse har det för olika sätt att se på hållbarhet i samhällsplanering? 

For older adults and people with disabilities, it can be difficult to participate in recreation due to inaccessible nature. This can lead to exclusion when it comes to outdoor experiences and health. Nature-based solutions for quality of life are hence essential. Through semi-structured interviews with Swedish municipal and county representatives, and representatives of interest organizations for people with physical disabilities, we identify challenges in the planning and management of the recreational landscape in relation to accessibility and participation. We enlighten how accessibility and social inclusion can be enhanced through planning and management to promote health through equal access to nature.