Current Forest-related Discourses

Helga Pülzl*, Doris Wydra, Franklin Obeng-Odoom, B.J.M. Arts, Peter Edwards, Daniela Kleinschmit, Alexandru Giurca, Sarah L. Burns, Julián D. Majailoff, Dodik Nurrochmat, Mi Sun Park

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Discourses about forests matter as they mediate or shape action. Chapter 4 presents an update to the work of Arts et al. (2010), which used a longitudinal analysis of global forest 1 (-related )discourses and interrelated meta- and regulatory discourses and their prevalence over time take stock of the discursive shifts that emerge from the literature. This is based on a literature search in Google Scholar, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science for the time from January 2011 to June 2023. The results were discussed with experts in the field to understand whether: i) important themes were missing, and ii) discursive dynamics were misrepresented or misinterpreted. In addition, main framing devices that have recently appeared were identified.

The analysis found that a 'climatization' of the environmental meta-discourse clearly has taken place, and has had an impact on how forests are problematized and understood to provide climate solutions. It identified also a refurbished discourse on ‘ecological modernisation’ with a neoliberal twist, and several of growth-based discourses that stretch from de-growth to pro-growth, as well as transition discourses that centre around civic environmentalism and justice. Regulatory discourses were found to not have changed considerably, but new modes of governance based on markets have become more common. New and refurbished forest-related discourses were also identified along several framings that impact forests, such as seeing forests as carbon sinks, ecosystem service providers, landscape managers, and suppliers of nature-based solutions in actual political debates.

Mechanisms of power are particularly pronounced in procedures of exclusion. Knowing forests and giving meaning to forest-related activities steers the way we see and use forests. Therefore, the chapter analyses results around frames of ‘constantly better knowledge’ about forests, the com-modification of forests into ‘tradable entities’, as well as silences (i.e., not addressing certain aspects of forests). These frames are seen as forms of power expression. The Chapter concludes that, while the academic literature and debates mostly reflect current dynamics in decision-making, this analysis shows that there is an ongoing polarization between different actor positions, which is likely to increase as discourses drift apart or confront each other. Therefore, finding common positions and compromise could become more complex and difficult in the future.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Forests Governance
Subtitle of host publicationA critical review of trends, drawbacks, and new approaches
EditorsDaniela Kleinschmit, Christoph Wildburger, Nelson Grima, Brendan Fisher
PublisherIUFRO
Chapter4
Pages83-118
Number of pages36
ISBN (Print)9783903345256
Publication statusPublished - 6 May 2024

Publication series

NameIUFRO World Series
PublisherInternational Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO)
Volume43
ISSN (Print)1016-3263

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