Partner und Internationale Organisationen
(Englisch)
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AT, BG, CH, DE, DK, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, UK
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Abstract
(Englisch)
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The project 'The socio-economic potential of rural forest enterprises and urban consumers' demands in Switzerland ' was diveded into three research modules addressing different aspects: Module 1: 'Foresters and forest owners in operational decision-making processes: Roles, knowledge, factors of influence '(research project of the Swiss federal research institute WSL, Birmensdorf) Module 2: ' Innovations in forest enterprises: products and services of collective forest owners in the change? - case studies from Switzerland '(research project ETH Zurich) Module 3: 'The demand of urban consumers for non-wood forest products and services in Switzerland' (research project ETH Zurich) Module 1: Foresters and forest owners in operational decision-making processes: Roles, knowledge, factors of influence Forest management decisions can significantly affect the products and benefits of the forest and on a long-term basis. Although it is well-known which decisions should be made for certain outcomes, how they are made has been much less investigated, for example: Which participants are involved in which roles, how much weight they have and what factors affect their decision-making. The project shall help to better understand the decision-making processes regarding the forest in and near population centres and the motivations of forest-owners and the forest service. The research project is accomplished in two phases: In a first explorative phase 17 experts and stakeholders are asked in a guided interview. In the second phase the main actors, namely public forest-owners and foresters are sampled in 11 Swiss cantons using a detailed questionnaire in order to substantiate the results. The research project was conducted in two phases: in the first explorative phase, 17 experts and concerned persons were questioned in guideline-interviews. In a second phase 42 public forest owners and foresters were surveyed in writing regarding two types of decisions; decisions concerning forest harvesting and decisions concerning stand establishment as well as annual planning and budgeting. The results of the two phases correspond to a large extent. Many of the results were unambiguous and were the same in several strata (e.g. type of forest owner). Despite the small sample, the results are therefore likely to describe reality in an appropriate manner. The most important player in the decision making process is the forester, be it as the manager of a forestry enterprise, as a district ranger or in combination with both functions. The forest owners are the second most important players. To a large degree they rely on the decision-making of the foresters, the advice of which they invariably consider as sound. The dominance of the foresters manifests itself in many aspects: in most cases the foresters initiate logging operations, define the goals, mark the trees to be felled and check the results. Generally, the forester makes the decisions regarding tree species and reforestation strategies both of which are decisions with long-term impact. They also do the annual planning and prepare the operational budget, the latter questioned in only 25% of the cases even though 57% of the annual financial statements indicate a deficit. Besides the foresters and forest owners, the other actors play a subordinate role. The dominance of the foresters in the surveyed decisions can be explained by their superior knowledge in the field of forestry. In addition to this, they have the legal right to authorize certain operations e.g. logging operations. Many forest owners do not have forest management know-how at a technical level and therefore need the advice of the forester. The high degree of confidence in the foresters continues at the level of the district forest officer, in that the forest owners and the foresters consider their advice as reliable. The result of the foresters` dominance is a lack of transparency in that the forest owners, as laypersons, generally cannot judge whether or not the decisions or the actions of the forester is in their interest. There is, however, no indication that this is not the case. Both foresters and forest owners view forest contractors as being solely task oriented and not decision-makers. This may be ascribed to the competitive situation between the foresters on the one hand and the forest contractors on the other, because for many operations the former have their own staff that are in direct competition with the forest contractors. The factors influencing the decision-making process for logging operations and stand establishment as well as for annual planning and the budget are similar. In both cases the demand for wood products, financial targets, long term conservation for future generations and pests are mentioned. Contributions from third parties play an important role. There are clear differences between the different types of forest owners. Forest corporations put great weight on timber production, offer the least non-wood forest products and services and most often have a positive balance. Townships and communities are the opposite; they put the least weight on wood production and seldom record a profit. 'Civic communities' are found in an intermediate position. The size of the forest properties and the balance are not linked. A common explanation for the rare positive balance of townships and communities in forestry is their fiscal jurisdiction. However, after this survey a more mundane explanation for the acceptance of deficits seems more likely: it is the possibility of cross-financing, be it with taxes or from other financial sources. The smaller the forest budget is in relation to the total budget, the more likely this possibility is. In comparison to the German speaking part of Switzerland, the French speaking part of Switzerland places a greater weight on multi-functional forests, and the district forest officers play a more important role in silvicultural decision making. All in all, the professional forest service has more influence in the French speaking part than it has in the German speaking part of Switzerland. Despite the great dominance of the foresters in the surveyed decisions concerning logging operations and stand establishment as well as in annual planning and budget preparation, nothing indicates that the forest owners feel themselves as being dominated by the foresters. They do not, for example, perceive the legal framework as a detriment to the decision making process. The results also do not indicate that the forest owners want a change of the legal framework e.g. relaxation of the prohibition to clear-felling and the issue of permits for logging operations. Module 2: Innovations in forest enterprises: products and services of collective forest owners in the change? - case studies from Switzerland Against the background of a decline in wood production and increasing demand in recreational and environmental services between 1995 and 2005, module 2 focused on product and service innovations in Swiss forestry holdings. More precisely, it analyzed whether the products and services of selected collective forest owners changed during these ten years. Moreover the aim was to find out more about the reasons why certain goods were produced and why the goods and services supplied varied over time. In order to answer these research questions, six in-depth case studies were conducted in the same area of module 3 (Lucerne, Berne, Schwyz, St. Gallen, Lausanne, Neuchâtel). It was found that the majority of innovations were non-wood forest products and services (NWFPS). These were both private and public or semi-public goods. These new products and services developed additional and in some cases important incomes out of wood production. Typical innovative private goods include the planning and realization of different types of wood constructions, construction works (partly or fully in wood), special felling and tree maintenance services for third parties, production of wood energy (forestry holding as contractor), forest management services for other forest owners, excursions and presentations on forest related issues, the production of certified wood (FSC, PEFC, Q-Label), wood commerce services and burial services in forests. Realized innovations in the area of public or semi-public goods were, for example, specific forest management services for recreational forests, the construction and maintenance of recreation facilities, ecological valorization measures for nature and landscape conservation or information provision on forest related subjects. Furthermore several organizational innovations were observed, which were initiated mostly from upper organizational levels. Positive influencing factors concerning the establishment of stated innovations include, in particular, demand-side actors (companies, associations, individual persons representing interest groups) and their willingness to pay for these public and private goods and services. Innovative recreational and natural services were provided if (new) funding could be generated. Such finances were provided for example by involving forest owners, nature conservation organizations or firms. In this regard the location of forests relative to urban regions was an important driving factor. Contacts to actors outside of the forest enterprise seem to be important, although incentives for innovations often began from existent or new customers. In this regard, the attitude of the forest manager concerning new ideas and demands seems to be crucial. Sturm 'Lothar' and the parallel fall of wood prices led in several cases to the establishment of new ideas and the successful realization of inventions. Additionally, the presence of advantageous credit donors was important especially for high investment innovations (e.g. wood energy production). Achung: Nicht genügend Platz DB EuroCOST - Abstract 2006 auf Server vollständig
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