As with most of Europe, the southern Swedish province of Skåne
is characterised by usage and ownership. Estates are frequently
seen as an unshakeable part of our cultural heritage, they possess
a certain beauty that commands respect; a feeling that frequently
stems from the fact that the lands have almost always been used
for farming, forestry and hunting. Despite this feeling, the
management of estates is changing fast - a fact that affects
both the geography of the land and the flora and fauna.
What is it that lies behind this change? What do the landowners
feel? Many families have tended these lands for generations.
What do they feel about the future of this fast changing world
where long-term is now months rather than decades or centuries?
Are we about to say goodbye to these estates and a landscape
we have nurtured for generations? FAREWELL TO A CULTURAL HERITAGE
draws our attention to the need to widen our horizons and think
again. Although the book offers no certain answers, the reader
is offered a chance to look behind the scenes and follow the
developments as they occurred before looking forward to see
what tomorrow might bring.
Through painstaking research, primarily of estates in Skåne,
Lillemor and Nils Lewan, biologist and geographer respectively,
have not only written an exciting, interdisciplinary book, but
they have also laid out the foundations for reflection and a
belief in the future. Their commitment and passion, which leap
from the pages of the book, will delight and interest users
and visitors to the countryside and estates we know and love.
AUTHORS
Lillemor and Nils Lewan live and work in the university city
of Lund in southern Sweden. They participate in scientific debates
as well as lecturing in centres of advanced and adult education.
;)
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