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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2022

Development of forest discourses across Europe: A longitudinal perspective

Edwards, Peter; Brukas, Vilis; Brukas, Algirdas; Hoogstra-Klein, Marjanke; Secco, Laura; Kleinschmit, Daniela

Abstract

Using secondary literature and interviews, this paper examines forest discourses since World War II in four countries: Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The national discourses often thematically coincide between the case countries, most prominently in the post-war endeavour to restore forest resources. This period was followed by diverging ideas and practices such as abandonment and fragmentation in Italy, resource conservation by stealth in Lithuania, multifunctionality in the Netherlands, and ongoing intensification in Sweden. Recently, the national discourses have been re-converging on the environment and the bioeconomy, albeit at different times and intensity. Overall, many national ideological battles follow the global meta-discourses, but linkages to these are much weaker for forestry practices.

Keywords

Discourse; Europe; FOREST MANAGEMENT; meta-discourses; Comparative study

Published in

Forest Policy and Economics
2022, Volume: 135, article number: 102641
Publisher: ELSEVIER

      SLU Authors

    • Edwards, Peter

      • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
        • Kleinschmit, Daniela

          • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
          • University of Freiburg

        Sustainable Development Goals

        SDG15 Life on land

        UKÄ Subject classification

        Forest Science

        Publication identifier

        DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2021.102641

        Permanent link to this page (URI)

        https://res.slu.se/id/publ/114510