New research to strengthen sustainable forest ownership

Private forest owners are now to receive better support thanks to anew research project at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS) at Jönköping University (JU) which will investigate Swedish forestry.

“We want to support private forest owners in their efforts to use the forest to achieve economic, cultural and environmental goals,” says Leona Achtenhagen, Project Manager and Professor of Business Administration at JIBS.

Forests play a key role in the fight against climate change. But stakeholders are divided over the role of forests Some advocate the protection and conservation of forests for biodiversity. Others argue for active forestry, driven by economic goals.

“My hope is that our study will lead to more clarity in the politicised debate on forestry, where different stakeholders advocate completely different views on what is best for achieving sustainability, economic returns and socio-cultural value in the forest,” says Leona Achtenhagen.

Complex Choices for Forest Owners

Almost half of Sweden's forests are privately owned. Swedish forest owners enjoy a great deal of freedom in that they can decide for themselves how they want to manage their forests, within the framework of laws and regulations. The increased debate on sustainability has recently made it more difficult for individual owners to know which forestry practices are best.

“Many forest owners have ambitions but lack the knowledge and plans to realise them. This can lead to some refraining from carrying out active forestry,” says Leona Achtenhagen.

Owners provide important perspectives

In the project, the researchers will map different perspectives on forestry and conduct a study in several different parts.

“These parts include literature studies, an analysis of how the subject is presented and discussed in the media, interviews with forest owners, and the development of a tool to support entrepreneurship in forestry,” says Leona Achtenhagen.

The project group will also conduct case studies by mapping those entrepreneurs that have been carrying out successful forestry.

"The results will support private forest owners so that they can actively choose how they want to design their forestry operations. Hopefully, this will also lead to the development of new business models. The theoretical contribution focuses on the interaction between different governance models, i.e. how different regulations and sometimes conflicting norms influence actors' decisions," says Leona Achtenhagen.