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Forest ecosystem services in Europe: policy and perceptions
(Department of Forest Economics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2025) Hertegård, Ester
This thesis explores policy concerning, and perceptions of, forest ecosystem services, which illustrates the multiple uses and societal benefits provided by forested landscapes, including their roles in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity conservation. This is done through a policy analysis investigating how forest ecosystem services are addressed within the European policy landscape, and an international survey-study that examines public perceptions and prioritizations related to forest ecosystem services. Five European regions were selected as case studies—Grisons (Switzerland), Estonia, Sweden, Catalonia (Spain), and the German states of Hesse and Thuringia—representing a range of forest types, governance systems, and cultural contexts. The findings indicate that relevant policy sectors are increasingly acknowledging both synergies and trade-offs related to forest ecosystem services, and they tend to be aligned in their overarching objectives. Furthermore, survey results show that the public consistently places the highest value on the regulating services of clean air and water, irrespective of regional differences in forest cover or associated economic benefits.