Sustainability through Good Advice? Assessing the Governance of Swedish Forest Biodiversity

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4328587
AutoresErik Hysing (0000-0001-5322-4305, Örebro University), Jan Olsson (0000-0002-3602-1837, Örebro University, autor correspondente)
Ano2005
Volume14
Fascículo4
Páginas510-526
Data de publicação2005-08-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoEnvironmental Politics (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0964-4016 • E-ISSN: 1743-8934
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09644010500175742
OpenAlexW2080022185
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas10
Referências citadas20

This article assesses the possibility of implementing biodiversity policies using voluntary, informative policy instruments. The case is the Swedish forest sector, a policy area where vital national economic interests as well as important ecological values are at stake. The results show that informative policy instruments affect the behaviour of forest owners by providing advice and raising awareness but do not change underlying values and preferences. Sustainability through good advice is an important practice with limited effects, at least in the short run. Private regulations (certifications) have a relatively powerful influence on forest owners and complement the public informative policy instruments, implying that the forest sector can be depicted as private governance with government. Notes Every forest stand gets a long-term goal with regard to its environmental and cultural value (CitationKjellin et al., 2001). Greener Forests is an educational campaign, launched in 1999, with the purpose of supplying knowledge, primarily to forest owners and workers, about how to realise the objectives of the forest policy in forestry (CitationNorrfaulk, 1999). During the period 1999–2001 the campaign reached about one-third of the Swedish forest owners (CitationKjellin et al., 2001). The timber buyers have a group certificate through which smaller forest owners and entrepreneurs can join the FSC or PEFC, respectively. The umbrella organisation primarily has an administrative role (CitationDahl, 2001, Citation2002). The RFB is responsible for establishing small-biotope reserves while the County Administration establishes larger nature reserves. Nature consideration agreements are civil court agreements between the government and a forest owner, with the purpose of preserving and developing the nature and cultural values within a specific area (CitationKjellin et al., 2001). For example, objectives such as 'the natural functions and processes of forest ecosystems are upheld' (Government Bill 2000–01:130) seem questionable when natural processes such as flooding and burning are almost non-existent today. Another example is the objective that 'all species that naturally occur in Sweden shall be able to survive in long-term, viable populations and maintain their genetic variation' (CitationSEPA, 2003). To ensure the survival of all species seems unlikely

Biodiversity · Business · Certified wood · Corporate governance · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental resource management · Forest management · Geography · Private sector · Sustainability · Sustainable forest management · Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies · Forest Management and Policy · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies · Ecology · Finance · Forestry