The project uncovers municipal incentives for meeting national targets for preservation of existing (or establishment of new) nature areas in spatial planning and land management, and pinpoint possible discrepancies between the national targets and local incentives, through case studies that present insights on how the municipalities in the Nordic countries take biodiversity, cultural aspects and outdoor activities into account in their spatial planning. The cases cover varying themes and conflicts between interests and provides an overview of different considerations that are at stake when planning and balancing land use. Through a mapping of different strategies and policy instruments affecting land use planning, PlanMiljø have compiled recommendations on how to improve the process of land use planning to avoid conflicts between stakeholders.