TY - JOUR

T1 - Mapping two centuries of forest governance in Nordic countries

T2 - An open access database

AU - Fridén, Alexia

AU - D'amato, Dalia

AU - Ekström, Hanna

AU - Iliev, Bogomil

AU - Nebasifu, Ayonghe

AU - May, Wilhelm

AU - Thomsen, Marianne

AU - Droste, Nils

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Forest ecosystems play a crucial role in the production and protection of economic, social, and environmental values. To understand current challenges and trajectories shaping future strategies within the Nordic forest sector, it is important to map and trace past and present policy and governance developments. The core contribution of this short communication is to present an open-access database that compiles key forest-related public national policies, legislative documents, and private governance initiatives in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway from the 19th century to the present day. To showcase the potential use of the database, we conducted a comparative appraisal of forest governance trends across Nordic countries, outlining differences and shared characteristics. We identify a shift from a highly regulated and rationalized forest management regime in the 19th and early 20th centuries towards more flexible forms of contemporary governance. This transformation comes with the growing importance of sectorial freedom with responsibility principles, but also increasing calls for forest multifunctionality. Demands for recreation, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation have intensified pressures on forest owners to provide public goods. However, the production and processing of marketable forest resources remains important to meet circular bioeconomy strategy goals. We conclude by briefly discussing the implications for strategic multifunctional use and polycentric governance of forests.

AB - Forest ecosystems play a crucial role in the production and protection of economic, social, and environmental values. To understand current challenges and trajectories shaping future strategies within the Nordic forest sector, it is important to map and trace past and present policy and governance developments. The core contribution of this short communication is to present an open-access database that compiles key forest-related public national policies, legislative documents, and private governance initiatives in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway from the 19th century to the present day. To showcase the potential use of the database, we conducted a comparative appraisal of forest governance trends across Nordic countries, outlining differences and shared characteristics. We identify a shift from a highly regulated and rationalized forest management regime in the 19th and early 20th centuries towards more flexible forms of contemporary governance. This transformation comes with the growing importance of sectorial freedom with responsibility principles, but also increasing calls for forest multifunctionality. Demands for recreation, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation have intensified pressures on forest owners to provide public goods. However, the production and processing of marketable forest resources remains important to meet circular bioeconomy strategy goals. We conclude by briefly discussing the implications for strategic multifunctional use and polycentric governance of forests.

U2 - 10.1016/j.forpol.2023.103142

DO - 10.1016/j.forpol.2023.103142

M3 - Journal article

VL - 160

JO - Forest Policy and Economics

JF - Forest Policy and Economics

SN - 1389-9341

M1 - 103142

ER -