How to Use Scientific Information: Road Map for Tailoring Your Own Natural Hazard Risk Management Solution

In this chapter, we explain how scientific information can effectively be used in the daily work of practitioners. We lead through the process of tailoring research results and scientific information to support an integrated and ecosystem-based natural hazard risk management in the form of a Road Map. This Road Map is based on the RIU (Research Integration Utilization) model for knowledge transfer and backed-up with our long-standing research experience. To illustrate the Road Map, which can be applied to any case of transferring scientific knowledge into practice, we summarize the main results of the GreenRisk4ALPs (GR4A) research project, and propose three steps for integrating them into applied projects or other activities: (1) “Diagnosis” - estimating the relevance of scientific information for applied risk or forest management, (2) “Consultation” - estimating the soundness of the scientific information through consultations with researchers, and (3) “Implementation” – checking the legal framework and the economic resources for the preferred solution. Furthermore, we provide a checklist for stakeholders for tailoring science-based solutions to their practical use, which contributes to facilitating the implementation of research results and can guide policy and practice. Finally, the theoretical and methodological background of the Road Map are presented and discussed

Survey Research in the Forest Science Journals - Insights from Journal Editors

Background and Purpose: Survey research is one of the most commonly applied approaches in the social sciences. In the forest research it has been used for more than five decades. In spite of that or the fact that the amount of survey-based articles in the forest science journals has increased during the last decade, their share in all articles published in 20 forest science journals (9,372 articles, 2005-2014) is quite modest (3.2%). In our paper we look at the opinions and attitudes of forest science journal editors towards survey research, as their perspective might enlarge our understanding of the use of this approach in the field of forestry. Materials and Methods: We selected 20 forest science journals - 15 from the SCI list and five non-SCI journals and contacted editors of these journals with the self-administered e-mail questionnaire. Data were collected in October 2014 and analyzed by descriptive statistics. The overall response rate was 75%. The assumptions for the study were based on the evidence addressing opinions and attitudes of journal editors from other research fields (finance) since no similar study was found in the field of forestry. Results: The majority of editors reported the same review process for survey-based articles as for all others. In two journals, articles with the survey-based content are screened more rigorously and in two journals their publishing is generally discouraged. 40% of journal editors hold the view that no difference should be made between survey research and other types of original research, and another 40% think that survey research should in the first place play a complementary role. As the main strength of survey research editors see the possibility to obtain data unavailable from other sources. They perceive adverse selection and the difficulty to generalize results as the main weaknesses. Conclusions: Editors of forest science journals have similar opinion on survey research as those from the field of finance. In both fields, survey-based articles typically undergo the same review process as all other original research articles. Journal editors were evenly split in their views if survey research should be considered equal or complementary to other types of original research. The two most commonly identified strengths and weaknesses differed just by the order

VALUATION OF URBAN FOREST BENEFITS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Urbane šume vrijedni su prirodni resursi koji modernom društvu pružaju višestruke koristi, pri čemu proizvodnja drva nije prioritet (Konijnendijk 2000). Stoga koristi od urbanih šuma vrlo često imaju obilježja netržišnih dobara i usluga. Prilikom donošenja odluka vezanih za urbane šume javlja se potreba za konkretnim informacijama, u idealnom slučaju rezultatima analize troškova i koristi, gdje su koristi od urbanih šuma važan ulazni podatak. Rezultati dobiveni znanstvenim metodama vrednovanja urbanih šuma mogu poslužiti za savjetovanje sudionika u procesu odlučivanja i donošenja politika u skladu s konceptom uporabljive znanosti (engl. usable science) (Stevanov i dr. 2011). Cilj je ovog rada kvalitativno analizirati literaturu koja se odnosi na vrednovanje koristi od urbanih šuma metodama vrednovanja netržišnih dobara i usluga. Na osnovi pretrage baze Science Direct izdvojeno ukupno 38 članaka koji su obuhvatili razdoblje od 1997. do 2012. godine. Analiza pokazuje da se najčešće primjenjuju metoda hedonističkih cijena (HPM) i metoda vrednovanja kontingenta (CVM), dok su metaanalize za sada rijetke. Odabrane studije obuhvaćaju različite tipove urbanih šuma (drveće, parkove, šume, rekreacijska područja) ili se odnose općenito na koncept otvorenog prostora (engl. open space) unutar kojih se nalaze i urbane šume. Većinu studija objavili su autori iz SAD-a (13) i Kine (8), a gledano po kontinentima najviše ih se odnosi na Europu (14), Sj. Ameriku (13) i Aziju (9). Istraživanja koja primjenjuju HPM pokazuju da blizina urbanih šuma (do 500 m) znatno utječe na porast vrijednosti nekretnine, a osim blizine, ključne varijable su tip i veličina urbane šume, slobodan pristup (ne naplaćuju se ulaznice) te razina kriminala. Najčešće vrednovana korist je mogućnost rekreacije. Rezultate vrednovanja različitim metodama treba tumačiti s oprezom, jer svaka pojedina metoda ima svojih prednosti i nedostataka. Analiza literature otkriva manjak ovakvih istraživanja u Hrvatskoj i upućuje na potrebu za jačom zastupljenosti ovakvih tema u budućnosti. Svrha je članka dati pregled studija vrednovanja koristi od urbanih šuma, pokazati koje varijable utječu na rezultat vrednovanja te općenito upozoriti na potrebu provođenja ovakvih studija. Prikazana analiza literature može poslužiti istraživačima, urbanistima, krajobraznim arhitektima te uživateljima koristi od urbanih šuma.Urban forests provide multiple benefits whereas wood production is less important in comparison to benefits such as mitigating air pollution and heath island effect, providing fresh water or recreational opportunities to growing urban population (Konijnendijk 2000). However these benefits are usually non-marketable. There are several typologies of forest benefits (services), while Tyrväinen et al. (2005) brings typology of benefits and uses of urban forests and trees (Table 1). Putting value on urban forest benefits helps decision makers to make informed decisions about urban forests, ideally based on cost- benefit analysis. This is in line with concept of usable science, whereas scientific results can serve as valuable information to political actors in the process of deliberation (Stevanov et al. 2011). The purpose of this paper was to give a literature analysis related to valuation of non-marketable urban forest benefits. Search engine Science Direct gave 38 results covering the period 1997-2012, with 24 papers published in the last five years (Table 2). Qualitative analysis showed that the most common valuation methods were hedonic pricing method (HPC) and contingent valuation method (CVM), while meta-analysis, as one of benefit transfer methods, was rare (Table 2). These methods use urban residents’ stated or revealed wiliness to pay (WTP) for urban forest benefits. Selected papers addressed different types of urban forests (street trees, trees in the park, forests or recreation areas) or trees as element of open spaces. Majority of studies are published by authors from USA (13) and China (8). Urban forest located within range of up to 500 m significantly affected valuation, as well as type, size, free access or level of crime in the neighbourhood. Recreational benefits were most commonly valuated. Results of valuation studies have to be interpreted in context of limitations of each method applied. Valuation studies of urban forest benefits in Croatia are still rare. Growing urban population and other pressures negatively influence urban forests. Putting monetary values on them could help in their conservation. This paper may be helpful to researchers, urban planners, landscape architects, and other consumers of urban forest benefits. There is almost no such research in Croatia, which indicates need to put more emphasis on this type of research in future

Analysis of conflicing interests on the example of the special nature reserve in Serbia: empirically analytical approach

Empirijsko analitički pristup znanosti šumarske politike primijenjen je na primjeru specijalnog rezervata prirode „Koviljsko-Petrovaradinski Rit“ (Srbija) s ciljem sveobuhvatne analize korisnika, njihovih interesa i potencijalnih sukoba interesa. Istraživanje je provedeno od kolovoza 2017. do kolovoza 2018. godine. Procjena intenziteta interesa identificiranih korisnika temelji se na kvalitativnoj analizi sadržaja i kritičkoj analizi te kombinaciji tehnika triangulacije, logičkog zaključivanja, indukcije i dedukcije. Unosom procijenjenog intenziteta interesa korisnika (vlasnici šuma – država i privatni šumovlasnici; zaposleni u šumarstvu; poduzeća/institucije – drvna industrija, pokrajinski sekretarijat, itd.; građani) u analitičku shemu jasno se mogla izdvojiti zona sukoba između korisnika s vrlo jakim interesom za korištenje drvne mase (Vojvodinašume, crkva, prerada drva) i korisnika koji pripadaju interesnom polju očuvanja/zaštite prirode (institucije zaštite prirode, građani). Uz navedeno, država tj. Vojvodinašume su u unutarnjem sukobu, jer (također) imaju vrlo snažan interes za proizvodnju drva s jedne strane i za zaštitu prirode s druge strane. Kako bi uravnotežila interese, država/pokrajina je u prednosti jer rješenje može potražiti interno, ali analitička shema pokazuje i da će rezultat neizbježno dovesti do sukoba s drugim korisnicima (drvnom industrijom ako se poveća opseg zaštite ili zaštitom prirode ako se pojača sječa drva). Koncept zaštitnih zona pokazuje trenutni kompromisni paket između zainteresiranih strana (stroga zaštita 6%, aktivna zaštita 29% i korištenje drva 65%), koji će opstati dok ga država bude mogla podržati političkim mjerama. Empirijsko analitički pristup omogućio je sveobuhvatni uvid u korisnike i interese vezane za Rit, a metodološka postavka je uz zaključake relevantne za daljnja znanstvena istraživanja stvorila osnovu za aktivniju komunikaciju rezultata s praksom.This study, based on modified Schusser´s sequential method, was conducted from August 2017 to August 2018 with the aim of using accessible and familiar case example from Serbia to verify the claim of forest policy science - that users, their interests and potential conflicts of interest can be comprehensively identified and analysed while applying empirically analytical approach. On the example of special nature reserve Koviljsko-Petrovaradinski Rit the intensity of user´s interest is assessed based on qualitative content analysis and critical reasoning in combination with the techniques of triangulation, induction and deduction. By entering the estimated intensity of user interests into the analytical sheme (users categorized as forest owners- state/province and private, forestry employees, enterprises/institutions and citizens), the first conflicting zone was identified between the very strong interests in forest utilization (priority of profitable timber harvesting) and the interest field comprising the very strong and strong user interests for nature conservation. In addition, the state/province (public enterprise Vojvodinašume) is in an internal conflict, having (also) a very strong interest in wood production (creating revenues) on the one hand and in nature conservation on another. In order to balance them (towards the general social interest), the state/province has an advantage of being in the position to look internally for a solution, but the analytical scheme also shows how potential changes could trigger conflicts with other users (wood industry if protection is increased or nature protection actors if logging intensifies). The current solution of protection zones, divided into strict protection 6%, active protection 29% and profitable use of wood 65%, reflects the actual compromise package between the state/province andinterests of remaining users, which will last as long as the state/province is in the position to support it with available political means.Whereas individual discourses take into account only partial aspects, the current approach has provided a comprehensive insight into Rit´s actors and interests. Methodological set-up of existing theoretically-based analytical categories has offered conclusions relevant for further research, forming at the same time a strong basis for more active communication of results with practice: users can more clearly perceive each other’s positions and evaluate own abilities to act, while searching for the implementation concepts that work in practice

Energy wood production from private forests -nonindustrial private forest owners' perceptions and attitudes in Croatia and Serbia

a b s t r a c t Private forests in Croatia and Serbia are highly fragmented in small plots with low productivity and owned by a large number of small-scale nonindustrial private forest owners (NIPFs). The study conducted surveys among 232 NIPFs in these two countries to find out their perceptions and attitudes related to energy wood production from their forests. The secondary objective of the study was to provide policy recommendations to the public authorities and professionals in these countries for improving the preconditions for energy wood mobilization from private forests. The study found that the NIPFs perceived underdeveloped market and low price for energy wood, absence of favorable policies, fragmented forests properties, older NIPFs' lack of interests in energy wood production, and difficulties in getting bank loan for energy wood related business activities as barriers against energy wood production from private forests. However, the NIPFs showed positive attitudes towards producing energy wood from their forests and they considered the possibilities of creating new jobs and commercial opportunities as strengths of energy wood production. The NIPFs' socio-demographic background had statistically significant relations with their perceptions and attitudes related to energy wood production. The dimensions of the NIPFs' perceptions and attitudes related to energy wood production showed two key dimensions -institutionalists and enthusiasts. The variables to explain the NIPFs' attitudes to energy wood production were different between the two countries and they indicated the differences in the country level circumstances for energy wood production. The results appeared to be relevant for understanding the issues that the NIPFs perceived as barriers against developing a viable energy wood market in their countries. When new forestry institutions and policies are emerging in these countries, the existing public and private forestry institutions need to play an important role for improving the preconditions for energy wood production from private forests

Analytic Model of Departamental Research as Science-Based Advising of Actors in Political Process - Analysis of Research Activity of the Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment from Novi Sad

U posljednje vrijeme sve su izraženiji zahtjevi za “uporabljivom” znanosti s izravno primjenjivim rezultatima u praksi. Mnoge europske zemlje, tako i Srbija i Hrvatska, postavljaju slične zahtjeve. Postojeće strategije i zakoni koji se odnose na znanstvenoistraživačku djelatnost javnih instituta (Vlada RS 2010, Vlada RH 2006, Hrvatski sabor 2003, MZOS 2006, 2007, 2010) navode da se znanstvenoistraživačka djelatnost obavlja radi ostvarivanja državnih interesa, uskom suradnjom s praksom i aktivnim prijenosom znanstveno utemeljenih i pravodobnih informacija donositeljima odluka i ostalim zainteresiranim stranama. Na primjeru Instituta za nizinsko šumarstvo i okoliš iz Srbije, pokazat ćemo da li, kako i u kojoj mjeri javni znanstveni instituti u području šumarstva i okoliša “osluškuju” potrebe sudionika u političkim procesima, odnosno koliko je znanstvenoistraživačka djelatnost Instituta u skladu sa zahtjevom “uporabljive znanosti”. Pri tome ćemo se poslužiti modelom resornoga istraživanja (Böcher i Krott 2010), koji aktivnosti i rezultate Instituta promatra kroz sfere istraživanja, integracije, znanstvene i praktične primjene. Veze između tih sfera prikazane su proizvodnim linijama, koje predstavljaju tijek i rezultate proizvodnje, u našem slučaju projekata. Analiza obuhvaća 51 znanstveno-istraživački projekt u razdoblju od 2005. do 2010. godine. Rezultati pokazuju primjenjivost modela resornoga istraživanja na odabrani Institut te jaku vezu između Instituta i korisnika rezultata istraživanja. Korišteni model, analizom aktivnosti Instituta za nizinsko šumarstvo i okoliš naglašava upravo uporabljivost rezultata koja je pri uobičajenim metodama evaluacije Instituta teško vidljiva.Many governments express a growing need for having a science that is “usable”, which means that research results should be useful for practical application. In Serbia and Croatia current strategies and laws addressing science and research see public research institutes as organizations with activities primarily oriented toward public interest, in a way that policy actors are provided with timely and adequate science-based information. In this paper we analysed scientific and research activities of public research Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE) to see whether, how and to what extent this institution meets the needs of actors in policy processes, i.e. if it is in line with the requirements of “usable science”. The Model of departmental research (Böcher i Krott 2010), based on sociology of scientific knowledge and analytical theory, has been applied on total scientific and research activities of ILFE. The very Model consists of following spheres: research, integration, scientific and practical utilisation, whereas production lines connect them and stay for activities of research projects (Figure 1). In total 51 research projects of ILFE for the period 2005–2010 have been analysed (table 1), based on project documentation, as well as semi-structured questionnaires and interviews with project leaders and management of the Institutes. Collected information was used in analysis of each project and graphically presented by production line on the model of departmental research. This was followed by synthesis and interpretation of the results. Results showed five types of production lines: (1) Preliminary research, starting in integration sphere, with the idea what will in the future be relevant for particular actor(s). However most activities remain in the research sphere, and foster results toward scientific utilization (Figure 2). In total 15 research projects of ILFE correspond with this type of production line. (2) Research stopped in the integration discourse. This production line also starts in the integration sphere, continues to the research sphere, where project proposal has been made, but its implementation gets stopped by the actors in political process, i.e. in the integration sphere (Figure 3). Only three projects of ILFE correspond with this type of production line. (3) Research oriented toward practical utilisation, where constant interaction between research and integration spheres, ends up in practical utilisation of results (Figure 4). Analysis showed 6 out of 51 projects fall into this group of typical science-based advising of actors in policy processes. (4) Research projects oriented toward scientific and practical utilisation, with the main difference that results are meant not only for practice, but for the scientific community as well (Figure 5). A group of 18 projects can be presented by this production line. (5) Consulting activities of public institutes. In ILFE seven out of 51 projects can be depicted by this type of production line, for which is typical that usually entire project is within the integration sphere with outputs in the practical utilisation discourse. During the research we were able to present all projects of the ILFE by production lines on the model of departmental research. There is a strong connection between ILFE and users of its expertise, with more than half of research projects having practical application (table 1). There are also im portant consulting activities going on which confirms importance of their role and quality of connection with the practise and society. The model proves to be advantageous over existing evaluation methods, while it makes transparent all aspects of departmental research, which is useful for both users of science-based expertise and founders of these institutions. It also makes a solid base for optimisation and quality management processes within institutions

Consultation process on forest biomass and sustainable forest management: How knowledge mobilization in the cross-border region of Croatia and Serbia worked?

Background and purpose: The aimof the paper is to describe and analyse the consultation process on forest biomass and sustainable forestmanagement in the context of renewable energy. Rather unique for the cross-border region of Croatian and Serbia the process was initiated within the EU project RoK-FOR [1] and based on a \u27triple helix\u27 principle- taking into consideration perspectives of science, administration and stakeholders [2 in 3]. Achieved body of information provides insights into forest-related issues in the context of renewable energy in the Western Balkans. Materials and methods: The methods and analytical frame used for the purpose of this article was proposed by [3], focusing on: actors and their roles in the process; instruments and tools used in the process of gathering information and consultation; and assessing the level of interaction among actors during the consultation processes. Stakeholders’ panel was the main instrument that generated »body of information«, whereas structured interviews were used for better understanding of actors involved. For understanding administrative and legislative framework the whole set of documents and decisions from both countries was analysed while observational notes helped to critically reflect upon data obtained by stakeholder interviews. Results and conclusions: Use of stakeholders’ panel as a platform for creating a rather robust »body of information« proved to be valuable tool in the consultation processes,which resulted in a consensus of participating actors on strategic research topics and common recognition ofmajor challenges related to forest biomass production and use. An overall level of interaction among participants can in both countries be classified as of a »medium intensity«, although the ways of interaction were somewhat different. The results could serve as inputs to national research and/or energy strategies in context of achieving renewable energy goals and fulfilment of obligations according to the Kyoto Protocol

Brazilian State Forest Institutions: Implementation of forestry goals evaluated by the 3L model

More than half of Brazilian territory (54%), or approx. 463 million ha, is covered by forests. Public forest ownership dominates with up to 80%, private forests cover cca. 20% and cca. 8% is unclaimed. In public forests the practice of concessions is growing, with the expectation of reducing the problem of Amazonian illegal loggings. Private forests are mainly under plantation management, which generates 5.5% of the country’s industrial gross domestic product. Relevance of both is accordingly high, although not dominant in forest share. A key question for forest policy is how successfully the state regulates both issues in practice. Our paper accordingly focuses on the Brazilian Forest Service and the Ministry of Agriculture, which are state forest institutions in charge of forest concessions and planted forests. We look at their performance against legally based forestry goals and rely on primary (participatory observation, semi-structured personal interviews and questionnaire) and secondary sources (documents) for empirical evidence. The 3 L Model serves as a theoretical basis. It was selected while applying criteria and indicators for evaluation of public institutions´ comprehensive performance with respect to sustainable forest management. The results show that Brazilian forest policy strives toward sustainable forest management, as an overall goal. In more particular, the performance of both examined state forest institutions is more market (than public demand) oriented and moves towards strengthening market competences. At the same time, there are constrains in sustaining forest stands. Due to permanent and strong conflicts related to land use changes in Brazil, the relevance of a mediator, aiming to harmonize all different interests related to forest protection and use, is high, but this role is still not taken, at least not by the evaluated state forest institutions. This represents new task for the forestry practice, while facilitating diverse interests in Brazilian forests could not only be a contribution toward conflict management between environmental, forestry and agribusiness actors but could also grant stronger political role to respective state forest institution(s). For attending this role, the performance evaluation of the whole and rather complex forest-related institutional setting in Brazil could provide relevant science-based policy arguments. This paper shows that the 3 L Model could be applied for such evaluation, as it was possible to adapt it to a non-European country and get a comprehensive overview of Brazilian plantation and concession forestry in practice

The (new) role of public forest administration in Western Balkans: Examples from Serbia, Croatia, FYR Macedonia and Republika Srpska

Public forest administrations in the Western Balkans were challenged when facing novel forest policies following the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990â s. To answer (i) what (formal) goals lead public forest administrations nowadays? and (ii) how do public forest administrations fulfil these goals? we have evaluated the implementation of forest policy goals in Serbia, Croatia, FYR Macedonia and Republika Srpska by using existing criteria and indicators, and the 3L Model as a theoretical basis. Survey and document analysis focused on the effects observable in state and private forests. In state forests all public/state forest enterprises were able to reach goals of being multifunctional and profitable by prioritising marketable goods. Sustaining forest stands is important, but it is met differently in practice. Performance in private forests is much weaker and the influence of ministry departments/sectors is weak. In conclusion, the potential for a new, stronger role of public forest administration exists: (i) the supply of marketable and nonâ marketable goods could be increased, whereas securing sustained forest stands remains a permanent challenge; (ii) efficiency and profits could be improved if internal and external pressures grow; (iii) joining forces of forestry actors could strengthen the currently weak political role and enable a strong forestry representative to emerge in the future.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author