Value positions based on forest policy stakeholders’ rhetoric in Finland

Published Date
June 2003, Vol.6(3):205–216, doi:10.1016/S1462-9011(03)00040-6

Protecting Nature on Private Land - From Conflicts to Agreements

Author 

Tapio Rantala ^,

 

Eeva Primmer

• Department of Forest Economics, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland

Available online 30 April 2003.

Abstract

We have investigated value arguments concerning forest policy in Finland and reflected on their prevalence in an international context. The arguments of the organised stakeholders of current forest policy are analysed using semi-structured interview data and secondary material. We have categorised these arguments, and based on them, constructed value positions. The explorative rhetoric analysis reveals shared as well as conflicting values and beliefs.

We have identified two dominating value positions: forestry position and nature position. The recognised core values include utility, property rights and value of nature, the utility dominating the policy discussion scene. A principal feature of the polarised policy field is a lack of trust. In addition to the polarisation, there is also a broad common ground in positions towards traditional rights of ownership and access to forests as well as on citizens’ rights to influence forest policy. In order to gain more influence in forest policy, both positions make an effort to redefine the concepts in the argumentation of the others.

Keywords

Forest policy

Environmental policy

Value

Rhetoric

Interest group

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Vitae

Tapio Rantala is a researcher at the Department of Forest Economics at the University of Helsinki. Currently, his major research interests are values and ideologies affecting Finnish forest policy. He has a Masters degree in forestry and is preparing his doctoral dissertation in the project Sustainability in Forest Use of the Academy of Finland.

Eeva Primmer is a researcher and post-graduate student in the project Sustainability in Forest Use of the Academy of Finland at the Department of Forest Economics, University of Helsinki. She has a Masters degree in forestry and her background is in evaluation and assessment work in environmental administration. Her current research interests include forest policy institutions and practices.

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  Corresponding author. Tel.: +358-9-191-57989; fax: +358-9-191-57984.

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