Sustainable Multifunctional Landscapes (SMULA)
Sustainable Multifunctional Landscapes (SMULA) is a multidisciplinary research environment at Kristianstad University. Our research focuses on the interplay between people and nature, including human impacts on biodiversity, climate, ecosystems, and well-being.
SMULA research focuses on the relationship between human populations and ecosystems. Many SMULA researchers approach questions of people and nature from the concept of landscape as defined by the European Landscape Convention (2000): "…an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors."
SMULA researchers study human interaction and the impact on ecosystems from different societal activities and consider how these activities may affect human well-being and ecosystem services. Members of our group are also involved in education, environmental management programs, and the development of new technology to mitigate the environmental impacts of human activities and to support positive human relationships with nature. SMULA attempts to connect research to the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere program. The UNESCO program uses model areas to support human populations as integrated parts of ecosystems, i.e., "social-ecological systems." The development of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research projects is, therefore, an essential part of our strategic development as a group.
With a clear sustainability profile, SMULA research strives to contribute to the sustainable development goals of Agenda 2030. Much of our research is highly relevant to society and communicating our work into policy and sustainable development is an important goal.
Read more about SMULA in Kristianstad University Research Portal.
Members of the research environment
Affiliated researcher
Ryan Bergstrom, Associate Professor & Internship Coordinator at University of Minnesota Duluth.
Daniel Wolf Watz, Mittuniversitetet, Sweden.