National and International Forest Policy
The course has two primary objectives: (1) to provide a wide perspective beyond traditional forestry disciplines by examining interactions between forests and society, and (2) to scrutinise global forest regimes and national forest policies with focus on their implications on actual forest management. The course is delivered by an international teacher team involving scholars from Sweden, Germany, Denmark and other countries. Course contents and activities are specifically designed for international student classes consisting of many nationalities. Thus the course provides a unique opportunity to examine societal preconditions and policy implications for forest management from a comparative international perspective. Class activities include debates and numerous exercises in groups. Outside the class, students visit a private forest estate, and engage into readings of scientific literature, elaboration of essays, and writing a reflective journal. At the end of the course, we undertake a 2-week study trip to countries outside Sweden, with focus on comparing forest policies in selected countries or regions.
Information from the course leader
Dear Euroforesters,
Welcome to the course "National and International Forest Policy" 2024!
Here on Canvas you will find all the necessary course information including the schedule, literature, assignments, etc. All course messages will be provided in the “Announcements”, and sometimes sent as messages using the Canvas email-function.
You can find detailed course overview calendar, detailed syllabus and literature under "Files/Key documents" (see the menu on the left-hand side). Course syllabus contains detailed overview of course topics, teaching forms, examination, etc. Syllabus and other main documents can be found under “Key documents”.
The calendar gives an overview of the course day by day. The morning session begins at 9:00 sharp (if not specified otherwise) and normally lasts until 12. The afternoon sessions are normally between 13-15(16).
In the course, we plan to have a study trip to Latvia and Lithuania, between March 4-15. The participating students shall plan expenses amounting to SEK 2,500 for partially covering the costs for the study trip.
Looking forward to meet you on January 15, Monday, at 9:00 in Silvicum!
Vilis, Anna, Derek, Ida + the rest of Teacher Team
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
SG0234-30182 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for SG0234
Academic year 2022/2023
National and International Forest Policy (SG0234-30160)
2023-01-16 - 2023-03-21
Academic year 2021/2022
National and International Forest Policy (SG0234-30090)
2022-01-17 - 2022-03-23
Academic year 2020/2021
National and International Forest Policy (SG0234-30026)
2021-01-18 - 2021-03-23
Academic year 2019/2020
National and International Forest Policy (SG0234-30162)
2020-01-20 - 2020-03-24
Academic year 2018/2019
National and International Forest Policy (SG0234-30076)
2019-01-21 - 2019-03-25
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
SG0234 National and International Forest Policy, 15.0 Credits
Nationell och internationell skogspolitikSubjects
Forest ScienceEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Single module | 15.0 | 0101 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
The equivalent of 120 credits at basic level including– 60 credits Forest Science or
– 60 credits Forest Management or
– 60 credits Biology or
– 60 credits Environmental Sciences or
– 60 credits Landscape Architecture or
– 60 credits Agricultural Sciences or
– 60 credits Natural Resource Management or
– 60 credits Economics or
– 60 credits Political Science
and
- English 6
Objectives
The course has two primary objectives: to provide a wide perspective beyond traditional forestry disciplines by examining interactions between forests and society, and to scrutinise international forest regimes and national forest policies with focus on their implications for sustainable forest management.
After completing the course, students should be able to:
Recognise regional, European and global forestry structures, including resources, actors and processes
Comprehend the complex linkages between forest-related policies and forest management practices
Critically analyse national and international forest policy issues and processes
Debate forest policy issues in an international context, advocate own viewpoints
Write reflective reports
Reflect on own learning
Content
The first two weeks of the course primarily deal with national forest policy processes and approaches to policy analysis. Students get acquainted with forest governance in the countries represented by their peers. Delivered by international teacher team, the class work includes lectures intermingled with exercises in groups and presentations by students. Class work in the 3rd to 7th week covers a variety of more specific topics, such as property right regimes, future and markets, forest certification as well as European and global forest policies. Among other things, students participate in debates with external stakeholders on hot policy issues. Activities outside the class include a visit to private forest estate, readings of scientific literature, elaboration of essays, and writing a reflective journal. At the end of the course, we undertake a study trip, with focus on comparing forest policies in selected countries or regions. The course has a wide thematic scope and also the ambition to develop generic skills such as competent debating and deep reflection. Therefore the pace of the course is high, requiring active students’ participation in diverse course activities. The obligatory activities encompass the study trip abroad, the visit to private forest owners and several seminars in the class.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Approved written exam and approved active participation in excercies and compulsory parts.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Responsible department
Department of Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre
Further information
Litterature list
List of literature “National and International Forest Policy” 2023
(preliminary list, based on literature from 2022; some items may change)
- Allchin, D. 1998. Values in science: An introduction. http://shipseducation.net/ethics/values.htm
- Auld, G., Gulbrandsen, L.H., and McDermott, C.L. 2008. Certification Schemes and the Impacts on Forests and Forestry. Annual Review of Environment and Resources 33:187–211.
- Bernstein, S. and Cashore, B. 2012. Complex global governance and domestic policies: four pathways of influence. International Affairs 88 (3): 585-604.
- Beaujon Marin, A., and Kuriakose, A.T. (2017) Gender and Sustainable Forest Management Climate Investment Funds
- Bose, P., Arts, B. and van Dijk, H. (2012). 'Forest Governmentality': A genealogy of subject-making of forest-dependent 'scheduled tribe' in India. Land Use Policy, 29 (3), pp 664-673
- Brukas, V., B.J. Thorsen, F. Helles, and P. Tarp. 2001. Discount rate and harvest policy: Implications for the Baltic forestry. Journal of Forest Policy and Economics 2: 143-156.
- Brukas, V. and N. Weber 2009. Forest management after the economic transition – at the crossroads between German and Scandinavian traditions? Forest Policy and Economics 11 (8): 586-592.
- Brukas, V. 2015. New World, Old Ideas—A Narrative of the Lithuanian Forestry Transition. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning 17(4): 495-515.
- Buchy, M. and Hoverman, S. 2000. Understanding public participation in forest planning: a review. Forest Policy and Economics, 1(1), pp. 15–25.
- CIFOR 2015. Forests: Gender, Property Rights and Access http://www.cifor.org/publications/pdf_files/Infobrief/3750-infobrief.pdf
- Dunn, W.N., 2015. Public policy analysis. Chapter 1.
- FAO 2020. State of the World’s Forests 2020, Executive Summary, pp. xvi-xxi
- Ingemarson, F., Lindhagen, A. and Eriksson, L. 2006. A typology of small-scale private forest owners in Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 21(3) 249-259.
- Johansson, M., Johansson, K. and Andersson, E., 2018. # Metoo in the Swedish forest sector: testimonies from harassed women on sexualised forms of male control. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, 33(5), pp.419-425
- Klingberg, T. 2002. A European view of forest issues for consideration. Working paper No 18, University of Gävle, Sweden, 14 pp.
- Krott M. 2005. Forest Policy Analysis. Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands. pp. 7-36; 39-63; 70-100; 117-143; 219–243.
- Larson, A., Barry, D., and Dahal, G.R. (2010) New rights of forest-based communities? Understanding processes of forest tenure reform. International Forestry Review,12 (1) pp 78-96
- Lindahl K.B., Lindahl, Sténs A., Sandström C., Johansson J., Lidskog R., Ranius T., Roberge, J.M. 2017. The Swedish forestry model: More of everything?, Forest Policy and Economics 77: 44-55.
- MacInnes, A., Colchester, M., and Whitmore, A. (2017). Free, prior and informed consent.; how to rectify the devastating consequences of harmful mining for indigenous peoples. Perspective in Ecology and Conservation, 15 (3), pp 152-160.
- Niedziałkowski, K. and Shkaruba, A., 2018. Governance and legitimacy of the Forest Stewardship Council certification in the national contexts–A comparative study of Belarus and Poland. Forest Policy and Economics, 97, pp.180-188.
- Pülzl, H.; Wydra, D.; Hogl, K. 2018. Piecemeal integration: Explaining and understanding 60 years of European Union forest policy making. Forests 2018, 9, 719.
- Reed, M. S. et al. (2018) ‘A theory of participation: what makes stakeholder and public engagement in environmental management work?’, Restoration Ecology, 26, pp. S7–S17. doi: 10.1111/rec.12541.
- Springate-Baginski, O. and J. Soussan 2002. A Methodology for Policy Process Analysis. Livelihood-Policy Relationships in South Asia. Working Paper 9.
- Stanislovaitis, A., Brukas, V., Kavaliauskas, M. & Mozgeris, G. 2015. Forest owner is more than her goal: a qualitative typology of Lithuanian owners. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 30(5): 478-491.
- Tekle Tegegne, Y.; Cramm, M.; van Brusselen, J. 2018. Sustainable Forest Management, FLEGT, and REDD+: Exploring Interlinkages to strengthen forest policy coherence. Sustainability 10, 4841, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su10124841
- Wallin, I., Pülzl, H., Secco, L., Sergent, A. and Kleinschmit, D., 2018. Research trends: Orchestrating forest policy-making: Involvement of scientists and stakeholders in political processes. Forest Policy and Economics 89: 1-3.
Suggested additional readings
1. Villalobos, L., Coria, J. and Nordén, A., 2018. Has Forest Certification Reduced Forest Degradation in Sweden?. Land Economics, 94(2), pp.220-238.
2. van der Ven, H. and Cashore, B., 2018. Forest certification: the challenge of measuring impacts. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 32, pp.104-111.