(Un)sheltered from the storm : A wind shelter as focal point for recreational nature use conflicts

Summary, in English

In recent years, a growing interest in sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation has emerged in Sweden and globally. While a positive development for many reasons, it coincides with other shifting patterns in recreational nature use, influenced by climate change, social media, and experimental interventions in natural areas. These developments bring opportunities to broaden participation, but also risk intensifying pressures on natural environments and increasing conflicts over land and nature use. Against this background, this paper focuses on a disputed wind shelter in Östergötland, Sweden. Built as part of the architectural festival Arknat, the shelter sparked a conflict amongst local users, entrepreneurs, and public recreation and tourism officials. The paper aims to analyse the different framings of nature use and decision-making by the parties involved, offering insights into the conflict process, and beyond. The paper concludes by connecting this focal point to broader discussions on the future of nature use, and suggests approaches to prevent, address, or resolve such conflicts.

• Author: Sara Skarp
• Department/s: Department of Sociology
• Publishing year: 2025
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
• Volume: 50
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2025.100882
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Other Geographic Studies (including Tourism, Urban, Rural, and Global Studies)
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 2213-0780