Das Leid der Bauern = La souffrance des paysan-ne-s

Der Krieg hat den Agrarsektor der Ukraine stark beeinträchtigt. Produktionsprobleme verschärfen sich, während die Besatzer wichtige landwirtschaftliche Mittel stehlen und Äcker verminen. Die Prognosen sind düster.La guerre touche lourdement le secteur agricole ukrainien. Tandis que les problèmes de production ne cessent de croitre, les forces d’occupation volent des ressources agricoles essentielles et minent les champs. Il n’y a guère de lueur à l’horizon

Extended discussion platform on international forest policy (IDANE Wald+) in Switzerland

Peer reviewe

Can social innovation make a difference to forest-dependent communities?

Attention to social innovation and its role in sustainable development have been rising. However, the knowledge of social innovation pertaining to rural areas, including the forestry sector is lacking. Therefore, in this Special Issue of Forest Policy and Economics we exchange understandings and advance scientific knowledge of the role and place of social innovation in the development of forest-dependent communities and of forest social-ecological systems, underpinning this development. Papers included in this Issue blend diverse theoretical positions into a coherent explanation of spatial variability, case and context specificity of social innovation, encompassing its empirical diversity, complexities and multiple dimensions. The suggested articles improve existing knowledge of determinants of success seeking to answer the question of how to support enhanced governance and social innovations, addressing multiplicity and priorities of social needs, and new social relationships and collaborations. We also provide innovative solutions and sustainable forestry considerations, ideas potentially useful for policy makers and practice communities of different levels, having ultimate aims of increasing the well-being of forest-dependent communities and building the resilience to changes taking place in remote rural areas of Europe and beyond

“Going out to get in”—Roles of forest conflicts in bottom‐linked environmental governance progressing toward socio‐political innovations

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Ein integrierter landschaftlicher Ansatz für den Erhalt und die Wiederherstellung von Waldlandschaften

Wälder sind als zentrales Element der Landschaft (Waldlandschaften) von grosser Bedeutung für die Erreichung der Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung (SDGs) und spielen eine wichtige Rolle für die lokale Wirtschaft und die soziale Identität. Sie stehen aber gleichzeitig vor grossen Herausforderungen, indem sie durch Landnutzungsänderungen, steigende Holznachfrage oder den Klimawandel bedroht sind. Um Waldlandschaften mit ihren Leistungen langfristig zu sichern, ist es entscheidend, integrierte Ansätze zu ihrer Erhaltung und Wiederherstellung zu verfolgen. Sektoralen Ansätzen fehlt oft der Erfolg, weshalb integrierte Landschaftsansätze (ILAs) an Bedeutung gewinnen. Diese betonen die Multifunktionalität und eine ganzheitliche Betrachtung von Waldlandschaften. Der theoretische Rahmen von ILAs und der Wiederherstellung von Waldlandschaften (FLR) wird in diesem Artikel anhand von Fallstudien aus verschiedenen Regionen im Ausland und in der Schweiz untersucht. Es werden Herausforderungen und Möglichkeiten bei der Umsetzung dieser Ansätze diskutiert. Dabei wird die Bedeutung einer integrierten Herangehensweise zur Erhaltung und Wiederherstellung von Waldlandschaften für die nachhaltige Entwicklung besonders hervorgehoben. Es wird empfohlen, Landschaftsansätze und sozialökologische Innovationen miteinander zu verbinden, um die Vorteile von Waldlandschaften optimal zu nutzen und die Widerstandsfähigkeit von Ökosystemen und Gemeinschaften zu stärken. Eine vertiefte Kenntnis der Verbindungen zwischen Wald, Landschaft und Menschen sowie Erfahrungen mit ILA- und FLR-Strategien können dazu beitragen, den Landschaftsansatz in der Waldpolitik weiter voranzubringen.En tant qu'élément central du paysage («paysages forestiers»), les forêts sont d'une grande importance pour la réalisation des objectifs de développement durable (ODD) et jouent un rôle important dans l'économie locale et l'identité sociale. Mais elles sont en même temps confrontées à de grands défis, dans la mesure où elles sont menacées par les changements d'utilisation des sols, la demande croissante de bois ou le changement climatique. Pour garantir à long terme les paysages forestiers et leurs services, il est essentiel d'adopter des approches intégrées pour leur conservation et leur restauration. Les approches sectorielles sont souvent dépourvues de succès, raison pour laquelle les approches intégrées du paysage («Integrated Landscape Approaches» – ILAs) gagnent en importance. Celles-ci mettent l'accent sur la multifonctionnalité et sur une approche globale des paysages forestiers. Le cadre théorique des ILA et de la restauration des paysages forestiers («FLR») est examiné dans cet article à l'aide d'études de cas provenant de différentes régions à l'étranger et en Suisse. Les défis et les possibilités liés à la mise en oeuvre de ces approches seront discutés. L'importance d'une approche intégrée de la conservation et de la restauration des paysages forestiers pour le développement durable est particulièrement soulignée. Il est recommandé de combiner les approches paysagères et les innovations socio-environnementales afin d'exploiter au mieux les avantages des paysages forestiers et de renforcer la résilience des écosystèmes et des communautés. Une connaissance approfondie des liens entre les forêts, les paysages et les populations, ainsi que l'expérience acquise dans le cadre des stratégies ILA et FLR peuvent contribuer à faire progresser l'approche paysagère dans la politique forestière.As a central element of landscapes (“forest landscapes”), forests are of great importance for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and play an important role for local economies and social identity. At the same time, however, they face major challenges in that they are threatened by changes in land use, increasing demand for wood, or climate change. In order to secure forest landscapes with their services in the long term, it is crucial to pursue integrated approaches to their conservation and restoration. Sectoral approaches often lack success, which is why integrated landscape approaches (ILA) are gaining importance. These emphasise multifunctionality and a holistic view of forest landscapes. The theoretical framework of ILA and forest landscape restoration (FLR) is explored in this article using case studies from different regions abroad and in Switzerland. Challenges and opportunities in implementing these approaches are discussed. The importance of an integrated approach to the conservation and restoration of forest landscapes for sustainable development is particularly emphasised. It is recommended to combine landscape approaches and social-ecological innovations to make the most of the benefits of forest landscapes and to strengthen the resilience of ecosystems and communities. A deeper knowledge of the linkages between forests, landscapes and people, as well as experience with ILA and FLR strategies, can help to further advance the landscape approach in forest policy

What Are the Impacts of Social Innovation? A Synthetic Review and Case Study of Community Forestry in the Scottish Highlands

International audience: In a context of political and economic austerity, social innovation has been presented as asolution to many social challenges, old and new. It aims to support the introduction of new ideasin response to the current urgent needs and challenges of vulnerable groups and seems to offerpromising solutions to the challenges faced by rural areas. Yet the evidence base of the impacts onthe sustainable development of rural communities remains scarce. In this paper, we explore socialinnovation in the context of community forestry and provide a brief synthetic review of key themeslinking the two concepts. We examine a case of social innovation in the context of community forestryand analyse its type, extent, and scale of impact in a marginalized rural area of Scotland. Using anin-depth case study approach, we apply a mixed research methodology using quantitative indicatorsof impact as well as qualitative data. Our results show that social innovation reinforces the socialdimension of community forestry. Impacts are highlighted across domains (environmental, social,economic, and institutional/governance) but are mainly limited to local territory. We discuss thesignificance of those results in the context of community forestry as well as for local development.We formulate policy recommendations to foster and sustain social innovation in rural areas

Empowering marginalised mountain communities to act for change

A demographic trend in marginalized mountain areas of Europe has been the out-migration of younger people and relocation of population from the most remote areas into nearby villages and towns. This has exacerbated the trend in the demographic profile of an ageing population with implications for delivering services and public policy addressing societal inequalities. Challenges for some mountain areas include poverty, social exclusion, and decline in public services, whereas in others large scale development (e.g., of tourism complexes, renewable energy) creates significant environmental pressures. This research employs a case study-based, mixed methods approach to understanding the challenges facing remote villages in Scottish Highlands, and the Alpine (Swiss) and Carpathian Mountains, as examples, and designing solutions to empower marginalized communities to act for change. We explore existing perspectives concerning the sustainable development of such areas and the role of social innovation for its delivery. We advance the conceptual and practical knowledge of social innovation and reveal its potential in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We demonstrate that social innovation can help in tackling societal challenges, utilizing opportunities, and enabling third sector actors to realise their capabilities, while improving social inclusion and reducing inequality. A challenge is how to balance trade-offs (between tourism and nature restoration; bio energy production and biodiversity conservation, etc.) and take advantage of opportunities available in the mountains. Our findings inform the design of policy and practice measures in European mountain areas to address sustainability and promote social justice. Acknowledgements This research is funded by the Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme 2022-2027, project JHI-D5-1, the VEGA 2/0170/21 project in Slovakia, and the EU funded projects of SIMRA (GA 677622), SHERPA (GA 862448), FirEUrisk (GA 101003890) and RURACTIVE (GA 101084377). This output is linked to the activities of the IUFRO Unit 4.05.05 on Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship.This research is funded by the Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme 2022-2027, project JHI-D5-1, the VEGA 2/0170/21 project in Slovakia, and the EU funded projects of SIMRA (GA 677622), SHERPA (GA 862448), FirEUrisk (GA 101003890) and RURACTIVE (GA 101084377). This output is linked to the activities of the IUFRO Unit 4.05.05 on Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Human values as catalysts and consequences of social innovations

We studied the role of human values in social innovations (SIs) in four forest-dependent communities (FDCs) in Europe. We draw on 71 semi-structured interviews with FDC members in Finland, Slovenia, the UK and Ukraine, and a survey of householders (n = 150) and focus group interviews with related stakeholders in Ukraine. The material collected was analyzed with mixed methods with respect to relational values as catalysts and consequences of SI. Relational values, which are derivative of the relationships between human and non-human world, and responsibilities towards these relationships, were divided into three categories: Doing, Belonging and Respecting. Doing encompasses the individual\u27s perspective of the opportunities offered by nature to individuals. Belonging encompasses a communal dimension of values manifested as the experience of \u27being at home\u27 in social collectives and landscapes. Respecting addresses environmental and social justice. Common cause for SI was the need of FDCs to sustain or enhance relational values linked to forests while, once emerged, SIs also have potential to become global game-changers. SI encompasses the reconfiguration of: i) forest management and use, ii) decision-making structures and processes, and iii) stakeholder\u27s perceptions of sustainability. Examples include the co-management arrangement between a State forestry enterprise and the local community, buying woodland from the State by the FDCs to enable community forestry, reinvention of traditional forest management, and the active involvement of FDC members in halting illegal logging. As a conclusion, we developed a general value hierarchy accounting for value plurality in which relational, instrumental and intrinsic values can be interpreted from any perspective

Beyond participation!:social innovations facilitating movement from authoritative state to participatory forest governance in Ukraine

Abstract Tuning participatory processes is often insufficient to achieve transition from authoritative state to democratic and participatory forest governance due to institutional inertia and unwillingness to truly decentralize decision-making power. Social innovations as reconfigurations of relationships between state, market actors, civil society and science can help to meet concerns of local people about forest Ecosystem Services (ES). In Ukraine, the Swiss-Ukrainian Forest Development (FORZA) pilot project initiated a social innovation process complementing regional forest planning with local participatory community development plans in Transcarpathia. This paper examines what kind of changes need to accompany the succession of participatory practices in transition processes from authoritative state to democratic forest governance, and what are the lessons learned for social innovations based on the Ukrainian case study. This paper synthesizes knowledge on the FORZA case analyzed by inductive content analysis, and integrates these local level results with a national survey (N = 244) on Ukrainian forest governance. Transition processes need to go “beyond participation” by (i) legal reforms to better acknowledge ES important for local people, (ii) a change from an exclusive focus on timber to acknowledging multiple ES, (iii) changed spatial and temporal rationales of state-based governance, and (iv) recognition of local people as credible experts. Social innovations can detect key barriers to the transition during the policy experiments, and need to pay significant attention on how the novel practices can be sustained after the pilot, replicated elsewhere and up-scaled. Without such considerations, social innovation projects may only remain as a marginal curiosity