A holistic framework for wetland placement and ecosystem service delivery by integrating landscape connectivity and participatory decision analysis in two Swedish catchments

This study focuses on two catchments in Uppsala County, Sweden, Hågaån and Enköpingsån, which differ in landscape morphology, land use, and hydrological characteristics. Both catchments drain into Lake Mälaren, a vital water resource in the region. These areas were selected for their socio-ecological relevance and the active involvement of local stakeholders in catchment management. The paper presents a holistic decision-support framework for optimizing wetland placement by integrating sediment connectivity modeling, hydrological assessments, and stakeholder-defined indicators using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). Landscape connectivity modelling, incorporating structural and functional connectivity indices, assessed sediment transfer dynamics and prioritized potential wetland sites. A participatory process, involving municipalities and regional actors, was used to define priority ecosystem functions and evaluate candidate wetland sites based on biophysical and socio-economic criteria. An upstream–downstream analysis was also incorporated to assess interactions across landscape positions. The study demonstrates that high-priority wetland sites are typically located at the intersection of elevated hydrological and geomorphological connectivity. Findings emphasize the value of combining landscape connectivity modeling with stakeholder knowledge to improve the spatial targeting of wetlands as nature-based solutions (NBS). The approach supports more strategic implementation of wetlands for sediment and water regulation, enhancing resilience in contrasting lowland catchments. The framework is transferable to other regions seeking integrated, stakeholder-driven wetland planning under changing land use and climate conditions.