| 1. |
- Nummelin, Tuomas, et al.
(author)
-
Forest futures by Swedish students : developing a mind mapping method for data collection
- 2017
-
In: Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. - Oslo : Taylor & Francis. - 0282-7581 .- 1651-1891. ; 32:8, s. 807-817
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Forests are an important natural resource in Sweden. They are used for multiple purposes, for example, providing economic returns from timber harvest, conservation of biodiversity, provision of wild berries and mushrooms and recreational benefits. People's perceptions of forests and forest use are currently under transformation due to drivers like globalization and urbanization. The aim of this study was to analyse in particular Swedish university student's visions of future forests using a newly developed survey method based on mind mapping. An online survey with mind map technique was used to collect data from university students in Umeå, northern Sweden. The study focused on features of forests, products derived from forests and activities in forests. The results indicate that students regard ecological, social and economic aspects of forests as important for future forests and the use of them. In particular, the role of non-wood forest products, like berries and mushrooms, as well as recreational features of forests were central to many of the students. The multitude of different visions suggests that forest management decisions of today, directing the future of forests, need to consider the multiple use of forests to be able to satisfy forest preferences also of younger generations.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Riala, Maria, et al.
(author)
-
Development potential of inventions in forest biomass harvesting
- 2015
-
Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This report presents the results of a Delphi study, which explored the future potential of selected technologies in forest biomass harvesting. Delphi is an expert method of futures studies. It is based on the assumption that pooled expert opinion gives a more accurate view of the future than the views of individual experts. Our expert panel consisted of forestry researchers, engineering researchers, machine manufacturers and companies in the biomass harvesting chain. The experts were from all over Europe. The data includes 22 responses. The technologies from other fields that were seen as having the greatest potential in forest biomass harvesting were “Hybrid electric power system”, “Self‐operating machines”, and “Ultra‐low emission engines”. From technologies developed within forestry, “Automated loading of biomass harwarders”, “Open forest street map”, and “Machine vision” were thought to have the greatest likelihood of being in use by 2030. The inventions the experts most wanted to be adopted by 2030 were “Open forest street map” and “Machine vision”. There is significant overlap between the two categories. The open answers in the study revealed a number of barriers to adopting new technologies into forest biomass harvesting. Some of the barriers were cultural, other economic, while yet other were technical or questioned the benefits that could be gained from these inventions. Taking into account the barriers is important in development and implementation of new technologies, because if there is no market demand, it seems new technologies can fail.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Roos, Anders, et al.
(author)
-
Environmental Policy in the Nordic Wood Product Industry: Insights Into Firms' Strategies and Communication
- 2016
-
In: Business Strategy and the Environment. - : Wiley. - 0964-4733 .- 1099-0836. ; 25, s. 10-27
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of our study is to explore how companies operating in the Nordic wood products value chains currently use environmental performance measures in their environmental policy and communication with stakeholders. Apart from the regularly-used environmental management certificates, the ability of wood material to store carbon and the use of sustainable forest management certificates open up interesting strategic options for firms in the implementation of their environmental policy. The primary was collected through thematic managerial interviews in 2011 from 37 companies in Finland, Sweden and Norway, of varying size, roles in the value chain, conditions for green business practices and exports. Forest certification and environmental management systems were frequently used, but managers did not always perceive them to be useful, particularly for raising environmental awareness at the final consumer level. Nevertheless, the general attitude towards using environmental performance measures was seen as positive. Companies with a business-to-business orientation were the most proactive in terms of environmental communication, whereas companies in consumer markets were more reactive. The key stakeholders targeted for environmental communication were value chain partners and the authorities, and only to a lesser degree employees and environmental non-governmental organisations. The key strategic role of environmental management and communication appeared to be securing the firms against negative environmental claims. The Nordic wood industry could improve their communication if the strategic orientation is shifted from the forest certification to the use of generic eco-labels, and most of all, to the adoption of quantitative measures like carbon footprints and environmental product declarations. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
|
|
