Landscape protection as a management tool - does it fulfil its aims?

This project will examine the effectiveness of policy instruments and landscape management in Landscape Protection Areas ("Landskapsvernområder"), focusing on the balance between economic activities and landscape conservation. The project addresses issues related to the production of private goods based on public goods, and the attitudes and perceptions of stakeholders in agricultural landscapes. Over four percent of Norway's land area is legally protected as Landscape Protection Areas, with the aim "(.. .) to preserve distinctive or beautiful areas of natural or cultural landscape". This is a form of protection where individual landowners often bear the responsibility and costs for protecting a public good. We expect that the social and economic acceptab ility of this type of land protection is important in determining its environmental success and long-term sustainability. Through analyses of old and recent aerial photographs, we will quantify landscape change within LPAs and compare this with trends in similar agricultural landscapes that are not protected. A range of indicators will be used to capture different aspects of landscape change that are important for visual landscape image and potential landscape experience. Using personal interviews, analy sis of standardized questionnaires and analysis of farm accounts data, we will explore farmers' understanding of and attitudes towards landscape protection and the economic impacts LPAs have had on farm economy, including the extent to which LPAs are perc eived and used as an asset in the establishment of landscape based industries. To the extent possible, option theory will be used to measure the economic value of the restrictions that follow the establishment of a LPA. The main outcome of the project wi ll be an evaluation of LPA as a tool for managing agricultural landscapes for the protection of landscape image and landscape experience, and recommendations for future use of this form of protection.