Recreation on private property: landowner attitudes towards allemansratt

Sweden's right of public access - allemansratt - allows for access to almost all rural land, so long as care is taken not to damage crops or disturb farm animals, wildlife, or landowners' privacy. Such access systems are of particular interest as an option for western governments that seek to solve the problem of increasing public demand for access. The article outlines the formal and informal aspects of Sweden's public access system and presents the findings of interviews with landowners in Nynashamn county, a rural area to the south of Stockholm. Few significant problems with allemansratt were reported. Landowners displayed positive attitudes towards the continuation of the right of public access and were accepting of the few limitations access plays on rural land management. The lesson for other jurisdictions considering introducing a right to roam is that farming and recreational use can coexist and that whilst an informal behavioural code is important, this needs to be backed up by trespass law, proactive dispute resolution, cooperation between user groups, landowners, and the state, and an ongoing public education campaign.