Multifunctional landscapes

This project developed new solutions for meeting increased demands of biomass for food, energy, and other biobased products, at the same time as conditions for biodiversity and multiple ecosystem services are enhanced.

Through case studies of land use in agricultural landscapes in Västra Götaland where a diversity of stakeholders - landowners, farmers, companies, regional authorities and more - are involved, the effects of various solutions for increasing biomass production and more carbon sinks are investigated.

A GIS-based analysis tool of land use is being developed to quantify and describe how ecosystem services and biodiversity can be maintained at landscape level. This analysis tool is used to identify interesting land-based climate measures that can contribute to “win win” effects by benefiting a number of ecosystem services while harvesting biomass for the production of bioenergy and other bio-based products. The solutions are developed for specific agricultural landscapes in Västra Götaland, but the analysis tool developed in the project is made available for use in other places in Sweden and abroad.

By involving many people in the project, the conditions for utilizing the results obtained and knowledge via follow-up implementation of land-based climate measures in the region are good.