Project Title

Institutional analysis of multi-functional forestry development

Project Contact

Maria Nijnik

Project Summary

The Problem-in-Context Framework, interconnecting all relevant disciplinary aspects of forestry development: physical, social and normative is adopted as a methodological tool for this research.

The research follows the “actors' arena perspective” (NIE approach) of exploring institutional changes in forestry and draws on data from the literature and from statistical records, rules & regulations on forests and forestry in Scotland, as well as on interviews. The analysis consists of an explanation of multiple contexts of the problems existing in forestry (opportunities vs. challenges) and includes a comparison of values and facts. The main cause-effects relations are traced, paying particular attention to environmental threats for native woodlands and for biodiversity. The problems examined at this stage of the research will lead to identifying policy proposals that are more consistent with the sustainable forestry paradigm. Hidden assumptions and “values” concerning sustainable forestry and institutional changes in forestry are focused on by taking into account economic and social interests of different stakeholders.

This project is part of the forestry strand of the “Institutions and Networks” module of Work Package 3.8, linking its newly formed module on Governance and Participation with the module on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.