| dc.description.abstract | Cities have long been poorly integrated into nature trails, which are popularly associated with rural areas. Yet these trails can be seen as places of connection between the urban and the rural, constituting a mélange of cultural identities that are assembled in these places and in turn act on these places through interwoven socio-materialities. How these characteristics of place-making are assembled has implications for environmental justice, social inclusion, as well as the future of urban spaces. This thesis examines three prominent long nature trails in Sweden, which weave through its most populous cities. It undertakes comparative case study analysis of the nature of this integration, drawing upon document analysis, expert interviews, and limited participant observation. Based on empirical analysis, I argue that the integration of cities into long distance nature trails must be an active and intentional process. Analysis also shows that the relationship between cities and nature is constantly evolving which influences strategic urban planning goals and the physical pathways of these nature trails. These insights are discussed in relation to scholarship on environmental justice, public health, and the benefits of long nature trails. Overall, Sweden’s integration of city spaces into long distance trails over the past five decades has been an impressive shift to better include urban residents into outdoor activities, despite not being at the forefront of the Swedish policy agenda. | |
