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

Abstract

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