People’s outdoor behavior and norm based on the Right of Public Access: a questionnaire survey in Sweden

Forests in Sweden, as well as natural sites in other Northern European countries, are the center of various outdoor activities, such as picking berries and mushrooms. These activities are supported by the Right of Public Access. However, outdoor activities based on this right potentially cause overuse and free-rider problems and conflict between landowners and visitors. Previous studies have not explained how Swedish people maintain their tradition of outdoor activities. This study aimed to clarify people’s outdoor activities supported by the Right of Public Access. We conducted an on-site questionnaire survey with a special focus on picking berries and mushrooms. We found that the conflict between landowners and visitors related to picking was low and that the pickers have a strong awareness of the need to avoid conflict. Such behaviors and norms were found to have originated largely from family activities since early childhood. Therefore, for sustaining public access to nature, the picking practice configures an important opportunity for the succession of informal knowledge and formal education.