Science and Politics in Old-Growth Forest Conflict in Upper Lapland

Abstract

This article illustrates the interconnectedness of science and politics through a case study of old-growth forest conflict in Finnish Upper Lapland. It demonstrates the ways in which "traditional science" has failed to settle the decades-long conflict between state forestry and traditional Sami reindeer herding, and discusses the potential of democratization of science through more inclusive forms of knowledge production. The analysis, which is based on qualitative interview data, shows that a traditional science focus on biological indicators and mathematical modeling has provided only a partial account of the reindeer herding-forestry interactions by ignoring the local, place-specific practices that are equally important in understanding the overall quality of pasture conditions in Upper Lapland. It concludes that an inclusive inquiry, structured according to the principles of joint fact-finding, could create a more policy-relevant, and also more scientifically robust, knowledge basis for future forest management and policy decisions.

Keywords

democratization of science; forest policy; joint fact-finding; participation; politicization of science; postnormal science

Published in

Nature and Culture
2013, volume: 8, number: 1, pages: 53-73
Publisher: BERGHAHN JOURNALS

SLU Authors

• Raitio, Kaisa

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG16 Peace, justice and strong institutions

UKÄ Subject classification

Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
Political Science (Excluding Peace and Conflict Studies)

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3167/nc.2013.080104

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/51327