Ecosystem-based adaptation through farmer networks in Roslagen, Sweden

Farmers in an informal smallholder network in Roslagen (Upplands Väsby, Stockholm County) implemented a set of ecosystem-based adaptation practices to reduce crop damage and failure under short growing seasons, cold winters, recurrent early-spring dry spells, erratic rainfall and increasing disease pressure (notably during milder winters). The interventions were not introduced as a single, externally designed package; they evolved organically from grassroots practice and were strengthened through ongoing experimentation and knowledge exchange within the network.

A central intervention was management of multiple species within the agroecosystem. Farmers applied polyculture by mixing crops in the same field (intercropping) and staggering crops over time (crop rotation). Crop rotations were tailored to soil type and field condition; a typical rotation included perennial leys with nitrogen-fixing species to revitalise soils and reduce pest infestation risk. Intercropping often included leguminous plants to improve nitrogen availability. Beyond crops, farmers actively protected and managed other agroecosystem components—farm animals, non-cultivated plants, birds, and soil flora and fauna—because of their functional roles. Practical examples included using geese for weed control in gardens and hens to control livestock parasites. Non-cultivated plants were retained and managed to provide shade, act as temporary nutrient stores, and help prevent growth of visceral parasites. Certain wild fauna were protected (including prohibitions on harming them) where farmers recognised their contribution to pest regulation and pollination.

A second intervention was the systematic use of natural indicators to guide operational decisions. Farmers observed wild plants and animal development and behaviour to interpret ecosystem variability and adjust land management, particularly the timing of sowing, planting, harvesting and other field operations. For example, birch leaf size was used as an indicator for when to sow, and the presence of particular plant species was used to infer soil quality. This approach depended on the co-existence of protected natural habitat alongside farmland, enabling reliable indicator species and ecological signals.

A third intervention focused on managing the wider farm environment to mitigate disturbances such as drought, floods, pests, weeds and disease. Farmers protected forests and trees in wetland areas to help regulate water levels and support flood and groundwater regulation. To conserve soil moisture, they used practices such as early-spring harrowing (to reduce capillary rise and evaporation) and the use of nurse crops or trees to provide shade. Pest and weed management combined several measures: intercropping and crop rotation in fields, alternate grazing by different livestock species, manual removal, and protecting or creating habitat for pest-controlling species such as birds and insects. Wild trees, bushes and flowering plants—particularly those important for pollinators—were protected to maintain pollination services.

A fourth, enabling intervention was the transmission of knowledge through the local network. Farmers shared ecological observations, traditional practices and newer methods (including those informed by recent scientific findings), and used experimentation with seed varieties and management techniques to respond to emerging pressures such as pests. Some farmers also drew on knowledge from non-governmental organisations and fed this back into the network. Traditional knowledge was actively tested and adapted; for instance, an infusion of stinging nettles (Urticaria dioica) was used as a crop spray and was reported to increase survival of potato crops, reflecting a practical response to disease pressure.

Key implementation challenges described in the source were climate variability (dry spells, erratic rainfall, shifting seasons) and heightened disease and pest risks, particularly associated with milder winters. Farmers addressed these through diversification (polyculture and managed functional biodiversity), moisture and water-level regulation via trees and wetlands, adaptive timing based on natural indicators, and iterative learning through experimentation and peer-to-peer exchange.