Nordic Network on Forest Policy Science (NorNetFoPo)

Political science has become increasingly relevant in the area of forest science. In a world of changing governing systems the importance of the social scientific perspective is essential. In most of the Nordic countries forest is of high importance as an economic but as well as an ecological object both with implication to the social world. For this reason, social scientific studies on forest policy issues have increasingly evolved in within the past decade outlined at several scientific organizations. Until now scientist dealing with these issue have only been loosely coupled in diverse small groups. An overall network connecting all the available expertise in the field is missing so far. For this reason the ‘Nordic Network on Forest Policy Science” will be established.

The Nordic Network on Forest Policy Science aims to bring together scientists dealing with all kinds of forest policy issues from a social scientific perspective. Besides scientists focusing on classical political science areas like for example forest policy studies, forest governance or forest development, scientists dealing with related issues like for example forest sociology and forest communication are part of the network.

The aim of the network is to:

• develop a network scientists working on forest policy issues from a social scientific perspective
  
• strengthen the communication between the scientists to enable the exchange of knowledge and experiences of peers to keep forest policy studies updated within the Nordic countries
  
• enable junior scientists to meet peers, presenting and discussing parts of their work build a platform improving the visibility of policy studies on forest issues in the Nordic countries and beyond
  
• to strengthen education on the area of forest policy

Activities:

• e-mail list to ease communication with other member of the network, to spread relevant news, such as new publications, information on conferences, vacancies, projects etc. Would you like to join us? Please contact us to be included in our e-mail list.
  
• annual meetings organized by one of the members (firsts meeting in 2010) with presentation and discussion on recent research studies, the opportunity to exchange information on education and other ongoing topics