What factors correlates with the use of game meat, wild fish, berries and mushroom in Swedish households
urban vs. rural areas
This study was made to see too what extent Swedes uses consumptive resources such as berries and mushrooms, game meat and meat from fish in their household on a yearly basis. I have also looked into the difference between rural and urban areas in Sweden. Further aim was to determine what factors that correlates with the participation in berry and mushroom picking and the use of game and fish meat within the household. The study was conducted in form of a mail survey that was sent to randomly chosen persons in every municipality in the six northern most counties in Sweden and in the county of Stockholm. In addition a sample was sent to randomly chosen persons on a national level.The results showed there is a difference in use between rural and urban areas in Sweden in all 4 investigated consumptive resources. Factors that correlated with berries and mushroom picking was age and access to a summer cottage. Factors significant correlated with use of game meat were sex, education and access to a summer cottage. Also for the consumption of fish access to summer cottage showed a significant correlation as well as education, sex and age. The differences between rural and urban areas is most likely due to the higher access of good conditions for berries and mushrooms in rural areas, the more available forestland and less competition due to the low amount of inhabitants. For the consumption of fish it is most likely due to better access to good fishing waters in rural areas. Another important factor that influences to what extent a household uses consumptive resources in their household is the social bond that thighs you to using this resource in a higher extent in rural areas than urban areas. You are more likely to know somebody that usually picks berries and mushroom, fish or hunt in their spare time in a rural area and therefore might learn and introduce you to that activity. Summer cottage showed a significant correlation to all of the consumptive resources and this is probably because you get closer to good habitats with high productivity of berries and mushrooms. This factor also provides better access to good fishing waters and good connections with the local people that might give you valuable fishing tips. Finally it might also provide you with hunting possibilities if you would like that. The positive and significant correlation with age for both picking berries and mushrooms and fishing indicates that older people are more likely to conduct these activities. The effect of sex on the use of fish and game meat both provided by someone within the household and not, shows that males are more likely to hunt and fish. Education is another factor that affects those consumptive resources and my result showed that lower levels of education have a positive correlation with hunting and fishing. My results also showed that males are more likely to hunt and fish and provide their households with meat. Income did not have any effect on the studied consumptive resources directly but it does affect if you have a summer cottage or not which in turn affects all of the consumptive resources that was studied.