AI to help researchers understand conflicts in the forest debate

Why has the debate over Swedish forestry become so polarised? Researchers at Jönköping University will use AI to analyse more than 27,000 newspaper articles to map the fault lines in Sweden’s forestry debate. The project has been awarded access to specialist AI expertise through a new support scheme from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, where expert consultancy replaces traditional research funding.

Questions about the future of Sweden’s forests evoke strong emotions and engage a wide range of stakeholders, from forest owners and environmental organisations to politicians, public authorities and industry representatives. The debate is often characterised by conflicting views on how forests should best be managed and conserved.

Researchers at Jönköping International Business School (JIBS), part of Jönköping University, aim to develop a deeper understanding of how these tensions have emerged and evolved over time by using AI to analyse news coverage of Swedish forestry.

“Our findings will help us better understand how such conflicts arise, map the positions of different stakeholder groups, and identify the knowledge and evidence on which those positions are based. Ultimately, we hope to highlight new ways of addressing these conflicts. This is particularly important for private forest owners, who today often face difficult choices when deciding which forestry practices best suit their needs,” says Leona Achtenhagen, Professor of Business Administration at JIBS and principal investigator of the project.

Mapping patterns that are difficult to detect

The researchers will use material from Retriever Mediearkivet, Sweden’s largest news archive database. They have identified more than 27,000 articles on Swedish forestry published between 2006 and the present day. This extensive dataset will allow them to track how actors, arguments and perspectives have developed over time.

By using AI, the research team can analyse the entire body of material and identify patterns that would otherwise be extremely difficult to detect. The project aims to identify key stakeholders in the debate, analyse how responsibility is assigned, examine the arguments being used, and explore how views on different forestry methods have changed over time.

The project forms part of a broader research initiative funded by the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation, which investigates how private forest owners can be better supported in making decisions that balance economic, environmental and cultural objectives. The researchers hope that the new insights generated will contribute to the development of tools that help forest owners identify business models aligned with their own circumstances and ambitions.

A new form of research support

The project has been awarded support through the Knut and Alice Wallenberg AI Consultancy Grant. Instead of receiving traditional research funding, selected research groups gain access to specialist AI expertise through AI4S, a company whose experts combine AI and research experience and work closely with project teams.

Applications were assessed by a scientific review committee on the basis of scientific excellence, the project’s potential to benefit from AI, access to relevant data, and the commitment of the research team.

“This support enables us to strengthen both our method competence and our capacity to use AI in research addressing issues of societal relevance,” says Leona Achtenhagen.