Governing Competing Demands for Forest Resources in Sweden

Abstract

Abstract:Changing and competing land use, where we make use of a growing share of resources, potentially undermines the capacity of forests to provide multiple functions such as timber, biodiversity, recreation and pasture lands. The governance challenge is thus to manage trade-offs between human needs and, at the same time, maintain the capacities of forests to provide us with these needs. Sweden provides a clear example of this kind of challenge. Traditionally, timber has been the most apparent contribution of the forest to Swedish national interests. However, due to competing land use, the identification of the wider role of forests in terms of multifunctionality has been recognized. Today, a number of functions, such as water quality and biodiversity together with cultural and social activities related to forests, are increasingly included as potential demands on forests in competition with traditional functions such as timber production. The challenge is thus related to trade-offs between different functions. How to balance the relationship and guide trade-offs between different functions of forests is, to a large extent, a matter of policy choice and the design of appropriate governance institutions and pro-active management activities. Based on perceptions among stakeholders on future competing demands and a literature review, the paper explore the multifunctionality of the Swedish forests and how it is affected by competing demands for land use; how multifunctionality is currently governed; and concludes by suggesting promising decision support methods to manage trade-offs between different functions.

Public Perceptions and Acceptance of Intensive Forestry in Sweden

“…The public may visit the forest for e.g., recreational or rehabilitation purposes. Forests also produce a number of ecosystem functions (e.g., clean water, biodiversity) that can be considered common-pool resources (Sandström et al 2011). Further, forestry and its related industries are important to the national economy.…”

“…Approximately 55 % of Sweden's land area is covered by boreal forest of which most is used for timber production (Swedish Forest Agency 2010). Sweden's present forest policy and management emphasizes production and environmental protection as parallel goals (Sandström et al 2011). However, the Swedish forest sector is increasingly affected by global trends of changing energy systems, climate politics, governance systems, and land use systems (Beland and Westholm 2011) and an increased competition between different functions (e.g., economic, environmental, recreational) of the forest is predicted (Sandström et al 2011).…”

“…Sweden's present forest policy and management emphasizes production and environmental protection as parallel goals (Sandström et al 2011). However, the Swedish forest sector is increasingly affected by global trends of changing energy systems, climate politics, governance systems, and land use systems (Beland and Westholm 2011) and an increased competition between different functions (e.g., economic, environmental, recreational) of the forest is predicted (Sandström et al 2011). Given that any forest policy influences various forest functions, and that forest policy in a democratic society such as Sweden, at least in theory, is influenced by public opinion, it is of interest to understand what the public acceptance of intensive forestry is, and what factors it may depend on.…”

Forest Stakeholder Participation in Improving Game Habitat in Swedish Forests

“…Game are also essential for forest ecosystem processes but their feeding activities (e.g., browsing) lead to costs in timber production [19,20]. Although in Sweden timber production and hunting for game have economic values [21,22] and some hunters and forest owners engage in improvement of game habitat to redistribute game activities in forests [14] to help reduce browsing damage in valuable forest stands e.g., young Scots pine trees, conflict of interests between foresters and hunters persist. Some forest owners perceive ungulates such as moose and deer as a problem due to economic losses they often incur from browsing damage [23,24].…”

Perceptions of Sustainability and Functional Aspects on Liquid Carton Board Packaging Materials versus Competing Materials for Juice Applications in Sweden

“…The challenges in governance to manage trade-offs between human needs and, at the same time maintain the capacities of the forests to provide these needs have been studied by [5]. They suggest a participatory process involving different stakeholders to support decision making.…”