This bachelor's thesis investigates how six municipalities in the Värmland region of Sweden justify the preservation and exploitation of agricultural land in their comprehensive plans. A qualitative analysis is applied, using an analytical framework developed by Öhlund et al. (2020), which builds on Trainor's (2006) concept of value pluralism and the notion of "realms of value". The framework identifies nine distinct realms: aesthetic, cultural, economic, ecosystem, moral, preparedness, recreational, scientific, and social. 

The analysis shows that economic and social values dominate municipal justifications, particularly in cases of land exploitation. In contrast, moral, scientific, and recreational values are less frequently expressed and tend to be marginalized. The study highlights the existence of value conflicts in municipal planning and illustrates how certain values receive stronger institutional support. It contributes to a deeper understanding of how value pluralism is managed in spatial planning and underscores the need for more transparent and inclusive decision-making processes.