Transformation of forest policy regimes in Finland since the 19th century

• Published in: Journal of historical geography Vol. 37; no. 4; pp. 429 - 439
• Main Authors: Kotilainen, Juha, Rytteri, Teijo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2011; San Francisco, CA Academic Press; New York, NY
• Subjects: Bgi / Prodig; Biodiversity; Environmental policy; Europe; Finland; Forest management; Forest policy; Forestry; Forests; Human geography; Policy regimes; Scandinavian States. Finland; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Finland; Forests; Forest policy; Sustainability; Finland; Forestry; Policy regimes; Historical geography; Twentieth Century; Forest resources; Nineteenth Century; Forest; Economic efficiency; Biodiversity; Resource management; Power
• ISSN: 0305-7488; 1095-8614
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhg.2011.04.003

In this paper, interpretations of sustainable forestry are investigated against the historical background of transformations in the industrial utilisation of forests. Three distinct forest policy regimes in Finland since the 19th century are identified. First, the introduction of the German forestry model, with the central notion of sustained yield, and the establishment of the Finnish Forest Service took place simultaneously in the latter half of the 19th century. These actions aimed at changing patterns of local forest use considered detrimental to long-term forest utilisation. Second, a national forest sector was established during the 20th century. Industrial forestry was seen as a guarantee of economic independence for the new nation-state. Third, during a recent phase the influence of non-governmental organisations and international forest industry companies has increased, and traditional power relations have changed as issues such as biodiversity, forest certification and global investments have been introduced to the debates. It is concluded that the recent transformations in forest management should be read as transformations in industrial forestry rather than as abandonment of industrial forest use models; the legacy of the 19th century German forest science still prevails in forest management.