*
 

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

*

Key information for forest policy decision-making - Does current reporting on forests and forestry reflect forest discourses?

Stefanie Linser (1), Markus Lier (2), Annemarie Bastrup-Birk (3)   

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 16, Issue 6, Pages 325-333 (2023)
doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor4457-016
Published: Nov 15, 2023 - Copyright © 2023 SISEF

Commentaries & Perspectives


Forest discourses help identify forest-related issues. They aim to aid policy and decision-makers in understanding forest-related challenges and opportunities better so that they may initiate possible strategies and tactics to tackle them. Ideally, information requirements for the forest discourses would be translated into measurable variables, being the basis for collecting, analysing, and reporting data and information. Our study examined the connection between major international forest reporting processes and forest discourses. We analysed summaries and key findings for policy makers of five recent major forest reports. We compared their focus with forest discourses on climate change, forest conservation, deforestation, forest decline, illegal logging, industrial forestry/bioeconomy, traditional knowledge, woody biomass production, and innovative wood-based biofuels. The paper explores how the forest discourses are reflected in the surveyed documents and closely examines the specific focus areas in the summaries for policy makers. The results show that most forest discourses are generally well-represented, albeit with different foci. The discourse on illegal logging could not be identified in any investigated documents, even though it remains a significant concern for international forest policy. Keywords related to traditional knowledge and woody biomass production could not be found in two of the analysed findings. All analysed summaries and key findings mention issues related to the climate change discourse topic. However, they lack information on emissions from deforestation, carbon dioxide emissions and carbon budgets, which are high in political discussions. The paper highlights how discourse issues have gained in complexity both topic-wise and regarding the reporting obligations, as policy and decision-makers require more timely and comprehensive information about the status’ and trends of forests.

  Keywords


Forest Data, Forest Information, Forest Reporting, Forest Discourse, Forest Policy

Authors’ address

(1)
Stefanie Linser 0000-0002-7505-4922
Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Institute of Forest, Environment and Natural Resource Policy, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, 1180 Vienna (Austria)
(2)
Markus Lier 0000-0002-0847-5997
Natural Resources Institute Finland - Luke, 80100 Joensuu (Finland)
(3)
Annemarie Bastrup-Birk 0000-0002-8405-8538
European Environment Agency (EEA), 1050 Copenhagen (Denmark)

Corresponding author

 
Annemarie Bastrup-Birk
annemarie.bastrup-birk@eea.europa.eu

Citation

Linser S, Lier M, Bastrup-Birk A (2023). Key information for forest policy decision-making - Does current reporting on forests and forestry reflect forest discourses?. iForest 16: 325-333. - doi: 10.3832/ifor4457-016

Academic Editor

Marco Borghetti

Paper history

Received: Aug 24, 2023
Accepted: Nov 08, 2023

First online: Nov 15, 2023
Publication Date: Dec 31, 2023
Publication Time: 0.23 months

Breakdown by View Type

(Waiting for server response...)

Article Usage

Total Article Views: 10033
(from publication date up to now)

Breakdown by View Type
HTML Page Views: 8401
Abstract Page Views: 885
PDF Downloads: 652
Citation/Reference Downloads: 11
XML Downloads: 84

Web Metrics
Days since publication: 323
Overall contacts: 10033
Avg. contacts per week: 217.43

Article Citations

Article citations are based on data periodically collected from the Clarivate Web of Science web site
(last update: Feb 2023)

(No citations were found up to date. Please come back later)


 

Publication Metrics

by Dimensions ©

Articles citing this article

List of the papers citing this article based on CrossRef Cited-by.

 
(1)
Anderegg WR, Trugman AT, Badgley G, Anderson CM, Bartuska A, Ciais P, Cullenward D, Field CB, Freeman J, Goetz SJ, Hicke JA (2020)
Climate-driven risks to the climate mitigation potential of forests. Science 368 (6497): 212.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(2)
Arts BVM, Van Tatenhove J, Leroy P (2000)
Policy arrangements. In: “Political Modernisation and the Environment” (Tatenhove J eds). ENPO 24, Springer, Heidelberg, Germany, pp. 53-69.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(3)
Arts BJM, Appelstrand M, Kleinschmit D, Pülzl H, Visseren-Hamakers IJ, Ebaa Atyi R, Enters T, McGinley K, Yasmi Y (2010)
Discourses, actors and instruments in international forest governance. In: “Embracing Complexity: Meeting the Challenges of International Forest Governance. A Global Assessment Report”. Global Forest Expert Panel on the International Forest Regime (Rayner J, Buck A, Katila P eds) IUFRO World Series 28, Vienna, Austria, pp. 57-74.
Online | Gscholar
(4)
Bastrup-Birk A (2021)
Criteria and indicator-based international Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting (MAR). UNECE/FAO, Rome, Italy, pp. 9.
Online | Gscholar
(5)
Bauer MW (2000)
Classical content analysis: a review. In: “Qualitative Researching with Text Image and Sound a Practical Handbook for Social Research” (Bauer MW, Gaskell G eds). SAGE Publishing, London, UK, pp. 131-151.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(6)
Breidenbach J, McRoberts RE, Alberdi I, Antón-Fernández C, Tomppo E (2021)
A century of national forest inventories - informing past, present and future decisions. Forest Ecosystems 8 (36): 2-4.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(7)
Bussotti F, Ferretti M (1998)
Air pollution, forest condition and forest decline in Southern Europe: an overview. Environmental Pollution 101 (1): 49-65.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(8)
CBD (2022)
Decision adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 15/4. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, CBD/COP/DEC/15/4, Montreal, Canada.
Gscholar
(9)
Chirici G, McRoberts RE, Winter S, Bertini R, Brändli UB, Alberdi Asensio I, Bastrup-Birk A, Rondeux J, Barsoum N, Marchetti M (2012)
National forest inventory contributions to forest biodiversity monitoring. Forest Science 58 (3): 257-268.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(10)
De Jong W, Galloway G, Katila P, Pacheco P (2017)
Forestry discourses and forest-based development - an introduction to the Special Issue. International Forestry Review 19 (1): 1-9.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(11)
EC (2018)
Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 and Decision No 529/2013/EU. European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
Gscholar
(12)
EC (2019)
The European Green Deal. COM (2019) 640 final, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
Gscholar
(13)
EC (2020)
EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - Bringing nature back into our lives. COM (2020) 380 final, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
Gscholar
(14)
EC (2022)
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Nature Restoration. COM (2022) 304 final. European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
Gscholar
(15)
EC (2023a)
Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010. European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
Gscholar
(16)
EC (2023b)
Guidelines on biodiversity-friendly afforestation, reforestation and tree planting. Commission Staff Working Document, SWD (2023) 61 final, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium. European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
Gscholar
(17)
EC (2023c)
Commission guidelines for defining, mapping, monitoring and strictly protecting EU primary and old-growth forests. Commission Staff Working Document, SWD (2023) 62 final, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
Gscholar
(18)
EC (2023d)
Guidelines on closer-to-nature forest management. Commission Staff Working Document, SWD (2023) 284 final, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
Gscholar
(19)
Edwards P, Brukas V, Brukas A, Hoogstra-Klein M, Secco L, Kleinschmit D (2022)
Development of forest discourses across Europe: a longitudinal perspective. Forest Policy and Economics 135 (2): 102641.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(20)
EEA (2019)
Forestry. In: “The European Environment State and Outlook 2020. Knowledge for Transition to a Sustainable Europe”. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, pp. 305-308.
Gscholar
(21)
Eurostat (2019)
5. Forestry activities. In: “Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Statistics - 2019 edition”. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, pp. 83-99.
Gscholar
(22)
FAO (1948)
Forest resources of the world. Unasylva 2: 4. FAO, Rome, Italy.
Gscholar
(23)
FAO (2020)
Global forest resources assessment 2020 - Key Findings. FAO, Rome, Italy, pp. 1-12.
Gscholar
(24)
FAO (2023)
Co-chairs summary. Global Workshop on Reporting on Progress Towards Global Forest Goals and Targets of the UN Strategic Plan on Forests 2030. Rome (Italy) 22-24 March 2023. FAO, Rome, Italy, pp. 11.
Online | Gscholar
(25)
FAO/CPF (2022a)
An assessment of uptake of the global core set of forest-related indicators. FAO, Rome, Italy, pp. 40.
Gscholar
(26)
FAO/CPF (2022b)
Status of, and trends in, the global core set of forest-related indicators. FAO, Rome, Italy, pp. 68.
Gscholar
(27)
Flick U (2010)
Qualitative Sozialforschung (3rd edn). Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag, Reinbek, Germany. [in German]
Online | Gscholar
(28)
Forest Europe (2020)
The State of Europe’s Forests 2020. Forest Europe Liaison Unit (Köhl M, Linser S, Prins K, eds), Bratislava, Slovakia.
Gscholar
(29)
Forzieri G, Dakos V, McDowell NG, Ramdane A, Cescatti A (2022)
Emerging signals of declining forest resilience under climate change. Nature 608 (7923): 534-539.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(30)
George JP, Bürkner PC, Sanders TG, Neumann M, Cammalleri C, Vogt JV, Lang M (2022)
Long-term forest monitoring reveals constant mortality rise in European forests. Plant Biology 24 (7): 1108-1119.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(31)
Giurca A, Nichiforel L, Stancioiu PT, Dragoi M, Dima DP (2022)
Unlocking Romania’s forest-based bioeconomy potential: knowledge-action-gaps and the way forward. Land 11 (11): 2-25.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(32)
Gluckman P, Wilsdon J (2016)
From paradox to principles: where next for scientific advice to governments? Palgrave Communications 2 (1): 1-4.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(33)
Grönlund G (2020)
Forest operations in multifunctional forestry. Faculty of Forest Science Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology, Umeå, Sweden, pp. 91.
Online | Gscholar
(34)
Gschwantner T, Lanz A, Vidal C, Bosela M, Cosmo LD, Fridman J, Gasparini P, Kuliešis A, Tomter S, Schadauer K (2016)
Comparison of methods used in European National Forest Inventories for the estimation of volume increment: towards harmonisation. Annals of Forest Science 73 (4): 807-821.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(35)
Harrison RD, Shono K, Gitz V, Meybeck A, Hofer T, Wertz-Kanounnikof S (2022)
Mainstreaming biodiversity in forestry. FAO Forestry Paper, No. 188, FAO, Rome, Italy and CIFOR, Bogor, Indonesia, pp. 175.
Online | Gscholar
(36)
Hernández-Morcillo M, Torralba M, Baiges T, Bernasconi A, Bottaro G, Brogaar S, Bussola F, Díaz-Varela E, Geneletti D, Grossmann CM, Kister J (2022)
Scanning the solutions for the sustainable supply of forest ecosystem services in Europe. Sustainability Science 17 (5): 2013-2029.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(37)
Hetemäki L (2019)
The role of science in forest policy - Experiences by EFI. Forest Policy and Economics 105: 10-16.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(38)
Humphreys D (1996)
Forest politics: the evolution of international cooperation. Earthscan, London, UK, pp. 324.
Gscholar
(39)
Iordachescu G, Vasile M (2023)
Forests of fear: illegal logging, criminalisation, and violence in the Carpathian Mountains. Annals of the American Association of Geographers 113 (9): 1-18.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(40)
IPCC (2022)
Climate change 2022: impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Pörtner H-O et al. eds). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, USA, pp. 3056.
Gscholar
(41)
JRC (2020)
Damage database. Joint Research Unit of the European Commission, ISPRA, VA, Italy, web site.
Online | Gscholar
(42)
Köhl M, Linser S, Prins K, Talarczyk A (2021)
The EU climate package “Fit for 55” - a double-edged sword for Europeans and their forests and timber industry. Forest Policy and Economics 132: 102596.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(43)
Krause GHM, Arndt U, Brandt CJ, Bucher J, Kenk G, Matzner E (1986)
Forest decline in Europe, development and possible causes. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 31: 647-668.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(44)
Leberger R, Rosa I, Guerra CA, Wolf F, Pereira HM (2019)
Global patterns of forest loss across IUCN categories of protected areas. Biological Conservation 241 (5): 108299.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(45)
Lier M, Köhl M, Korhonen KT, Linser S, Prins K (2021)
Forest relevant targets in EU policy instruments - Can progress be measured by the pan-European criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management? Forest Policy and Economics 128 (12): 102481.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(46)
Lier M, Köhl M, Korhonen KT, Linser S, Prins K, Talarczyk A (2022)
The New EU Forest Strategy for 2030: a new understanding of sustainable forest management? Forests 13 (2): 245.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(47)
Linser S (2021)
Criteria and indicators - A universal policy tool for sustainable forest management. UNECE/FAO, Geneva, Switzerland.
Online | Gscholar
(48)
Linser S, Wolfslehner B (2022)
National implementation of the Forest Europe indicators for sustainable forest management. Forests 13 (2): 191.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(49)
MacDicken KG (2015)
Global forest resources assessment 2015: What, why and how? Forest Ecology and Management 352: 3-8.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(50)
Maltamo M (2021)
100 years of national forest inventories. Silva Fennica 55 (4): 10643.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(51)
McRoberts RE, Tomppo E, Schadauer K, Stahl G (2012)
Harmonising national forest inventories. Forest Science 58 (3): 189-190.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(52)
McGinley K, Murray L, Robertson G, White EM (2023)
National report on sustainable forests 2020. FS-1217, USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 1-53.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(53)
Michel A, Kirchner T, Prescher A-K, Schwärzel K (2022)
Forest condition in Europe: the 2022 assessment. ICP Forests Technical Report under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention), Thünen Institute, Eberswalde, Germany, pp. 103.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(54)
Muys B (2020)
Forest ecosystem services. In: “Life on Land. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals” (Leal Filho W, Azul A, Brandli L, Lange Salvia A, Wall T eds). Springer, Heidelberg, Germany.
Gscholar
(55)
Muys B, Angelstam P, Bauhus J, Bouriaud L, Jactel H, Kraigher H, Müller J, Pettorelli N, Pötzelsberger E, Primmer E, Svoboda M, Thorsen BJ, Van Meerbeek K (2022)
Forest biodiversity in Europe. From Science to Policy 13, European Forest Institute, Joensuu, Finland, pp. 80.
Online | Gscholar
(56)
Näyhä A (2018)
Transition in the Finnish forest-based sector: company perspectives on the bioeconomy, circular economy and sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production 209 (8): 1294-1306.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(57)
Oettel J, Lapin K (2020)
Linking forest management and biodiversity indicators to strengthen sustainable forest management in Europe. Ecological Indicators 122: 107275.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(58)
Palahí M, Valbuena R, Senf C, Acil N, Pugh TAM, Sadler J, Seidl R, Potapov P, Gardiner B, Hetemäki L, Chirici G, Francini S, Hlásny T, Lerink BJE, Olsson H, González Olabarria JR, Ascoli D, Asikainen A, Bauhus J, Berndes G, Donis J, Fridman J, Hanewinkel M, Jactel H, Lindner M, Marchetti M, Marušák R, Sheil D, Tomé M, Trasobares A, Verkerk JP, Korhonen M, Nabuurs GJ (2021)
Concerns about reported harvests in European forests. Nature 592: E15-E17.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(59)
Paravantis JA, Kontoulis N (2020)
Energy security and renewable energy: a geopolitical perspective. In: “Renewable Energy-Resources, Challenges and Applications” (Al Qubeissi M et al. eds). IntechOpen, London, UK, pp. 2-29.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(60)
Parotta JA, Agnoletti M (2007)
Traditional forest knowledge: challenges and opportunities. Forest Ecology and Management 249 (1-2): 1-4.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(61)
Pötzelsberger E, Bauhus J, Muys B, Wunder S, Bozzano M, Farsakoglou AM, Schuck A, Lindner M, Lapin K (2021)
Forest biodiversity in the spotlight. European Forest Institute, Joensuu, Finland, pp. 12.
Online | Gscholar
(62)
Prins K (2022)
War in Ukraine and extensive forest damage in Central Europe: supplementary challenges for forests and timber or the beginning of a new era? Forest Policy and Economics 140: 102736.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(63)
Prins K, Köhl M, Linser S (2023)
Is the concept of sustainable forest management still fit for purpose? Forest Policy and Economics 157: 103072.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(64)
Talarczyk A (2021)
Information Systems - tool for better forest policy and management. UNECE/FAO, Geneva, Switzerland, pp. 11.
Online | Gscholar
(65)
UNECE (2020)
Key findings: conditions and significance of forests in the Economic Commission for Europe region. In: “Forest Resources Assessment 2020”. Economic Commission for Europe, Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry, Seventy-eight sessions, Geneva, Switzerland, pp. 10.
Gscholar
(66)
UNEP/UNICRI (2018)
The state of knowledge of crimes that have serious impacts on the environment. United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya, pp. 110.
Gscholar
(67)
UNFF (2018)
Contribution of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and its members, regional and subregional organisations and processes, major groups and other stakeholders to the implementation of the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030. E/CN 18/2018/3, United Nations Forum on Forests, New York, USA.
Gscholar
(68)
Von Carlowitz HC (1713)
Sylvicultura Oeconomica oder Haußwirthliche Nachricht und naturgemäße Anweisung zur Wilden Baum-Zucht. JF Braun, Leipzig, Germany, pp. 640.
Gscholar
(69)
Winkel G, Lovric M, Muys B (2022)
Governing Europe’s forests for multiple ecosystem services: opportunities, challenges, and policy options. Forest Policy and Economics 145 (3): 102849.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(70)
World Bank (2019)
Illegal logging, fishing, and wildlife trade: costs and how to combat it. World Bank, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 180. -
Online | Gscholar
 

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. More info