MULTI-OBJECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS MICHELLE BENYAMINE 1∗ , MATTIAS BÄCKSTRÖM 1 and PER SANDÉN 2 1 Man-Technology-Environment Research Centre, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; 2 Department of Thematic Studies, Campus Norrköping, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden ( ∗ author for correspondence, e-mail: michelle.benyamine@nat.oru.se) (Received 9 September 2002; accepted 24 December 2002) Abstract. We examined multi-objective environmental management as applied to pursuing con- current goals of water treatment, biodiversity and promotion of recreation in constructed wetlands. A case study of a wetland established to treat landfill leachate, increase biodiversity, and promote recreation was evaluated. The study showed that attempts to combine pollution management with activities promoting biodiversity or recreation are problematic in constructed wetlands. This could be because the typical single-objective focus of scientific research leads to contradictions when planning, implementing and assessing the multi-objective use of wetlands. In the specific case of wetland filters for landfill leachate treatment, biodiversity, and recreation, there is a need for further research that meet practical needs to secure positive outcomes. Keywords: biodiversity, recreation, theoretical disputes, water treatment, wetlands 1. Introduction Multi-objective environmental management is increasingly used in regional envir- onmental planning. Activities designed to reduce pollution or attract tourists at the same time as preserving diversity can make environmental conservation economic- ally justified. A convenient example is the case of constructed wetlands developed primarily for on-site water treatment, while increased biodiversity and recreation are promoted as additional effects. Wetlands are commonly regarded as key ecosystems for preserving species diversity of, for example fish, amphibians, aquatic invertebrates, and birds. Aware- ness that over 60% of the world’s wetlands disappeared in the 20th century (Innis et al., 2000), has focused scientific attention on the conservation of existing and creation of new wetlands. Wetland ecosystems have also proven to be effective for the on-site management of municipal and agricultural wastewater. In wetland envir- onments, soil micro-organisms can oxidise organic matter and nitrify and denitrify nitrogen compounds. The main mechanism for metal removal is precipitation and adsorption in the oxidised wetland sediments (Martin and Moshiri, 1994). Con- structed wetlands have been studied for the treatment of industrial wastewater in the form of landfill leachate, pulp and paper wastewater, mine drainage, petroleum refinery wastewater, and wastewater from electroplating industries and textile pro- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 90: 171–185, 2004. © 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.