Local natural resource dependency in a Swedish boreal municipality

Since every society depends on a society specific “natural resource field”, natural resource utilization within a society strongly influences socio-economic development. Natural and socio-economic sustainability originates in the local level, which in a Swedish context can be regarded as municipality level. Important natural resource users are local commercial activities, due to their central role in local socio-economy. In this thesis the local natural resource dependent society is a Swedish boreal municipality. The hypothesis is that its natural resource dependency is deeply rooted in the local culture and still of crucial socio-economic importance, but that understanding regarding this must be improved. Thus local natural resource (LNR) dependency and its impacts on local commercial activities is quantified, characterised and displayed, and further discussed in a socio-economic context. Data were collected among local commercial activities, represented by unique workplaces (UWps) within the municipality of Vilhelmina, through a telephone supported questionnaire. Half of the number of municipality UWps was addressed of which 46.5% responded. Results reveal that 80% of the UWps are highly LNR dependent. They offer engagement opportunities corresponding to 1 900 people and 40% of them are all-year, full-time engagements. Business establishment within Vilhelmina is associated with personal municipality connections or municipality qualities and geographical locations of all types of businesses is scattered across and outside of the municipality. Eighty per cent has been located within Vilhelmina for more than a decade and are likely to stay in business. Markets of UWps are mainly local. Cluster analysis identified LNR/LNR access dependency profiles, which show unique dependency patterns and differences in dominating business categories. Businesses, however, overlap profile boundaries and multiple businesses within UWps are reported in all profiles. Between profiles engagement opportunities per UWp vary from one to five. Results imply strong connections between LNR dependent small businesses, people involved and local social, cultural and economical structures. It is thus believed that LNR/LNR access dependency and commercial activities are deeply rooted in boreal municipality culture. To facilitate local as well as general positive development results hence confirm the need to quantify and characterize the LNR/LNR access dependency within a boreal municipality.