Dissimilar framings of forest biodiversity preservation: Uncertainty and legal ambiguity as contributing factors

Abstract

Controversies over forestry and environmental issues, including biodiversity, are common. Theory suggests that uncertainty may play a major role in framing biodiversity and its preservation. This paper examines written statements on biodiversity preservation published by two major Swedish organizations, i.e., the Swedish Forest Industries Federation and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, with different interests in forest use. Frame analysis suggests that when the actors pursue a certain policy course, both biodiversity-related uncertainty and lack of regulatory clarity are important factors contributing to dissimilar framings. This case study supports the general understanding that biodiversity-related uncertainty can have important implications for biodiversity preservation, in this case, via forest policy and legislation. Scientific uncertainty may allow actors with dissimilar interests in an issue to justify their standpoints. To successfully manage forest biodiversity in the future, legal frameworks must increasingly find ways to accommodate scientific uncertainty, and models must be developed in which stakeholders' diverging interests and values address uncertainties via dialogue. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Forestry; Biodiversity; Framing; Uncertainty; Regulation; Forest policy

Published in

Forest Policy and Economics
2016, Volume: 62, pages: 36-42
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Forsberg, Maria

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

• Larsson, Stig

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Future Forests
SLU Swedish Biodiversity Centre


Sustainable Development Goals

SDG15 Life on land


UKÄ Subject classification

Law and Society
Forest Science
Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2015.07.007

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/79661