Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector
The course is based on learning activities, for example lectures, seminars, oral presentations, written assignments and study visits. Activities can be individual as well as group based. Compulsory attendance is required at for example study visits, guest lectures and seminars.
The course takes it’s starting point in topical forest related societal challenges concerning e.g. land use, industrial production, use of resources, demographic changes and climate change. Throughout the course the sustainable development goals (SDG:s) established by the United Nations in 2015 are used and related to. In relation to these challenges questions about ecological, social and economic sustainability, the forest industries role and prerequisites, and how political and economic governance can be designed to achieve different political goals are discussed.
The course focus are at (1) fundamental knowledge on the forest resource and the forest industry structure, development and role in society – with global as well as local perspectives; and (2) the content in international and national forest policy, as well as models for market based and political tools. During the coursedifferent regions with different circumstances regarding forest resources, forest industry and social structure are in focus.
By providing insight into how the forest sector contribute to societies need; how the sector interact with other sectors in society; and about political balances between different interests and values, the students are inspired to reflect about how different stakeholders in the forest sector are balanced and how the contribution from the sector can be improved. During the whole course the forest sector decisions, how forest policy evolves and we reflect over stakeholders, conflicts of interest, power and responsibility at global, regional and national level are discussed.
Information from the course leader
A warm welcome to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and the course Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector!
Once the course has started, all information will be on the Canvas page. To access Canvas, your emails and Ladok, etc. please make sure to create a student account (see link below).
A prel. literature list and schedule is now available!
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Useful links:
Student account
Access to printers
Educational support
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
SG0247-10309 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for SG0247
Academic year 2023/2024
Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector (SG0247-10310)
2023-08-28 - 2023-10-30
Academic year 2022/2023
Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector (SG0247-10206)
2022-08-29 - 2022-10-31
Academic year 2022/2023
Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector (SG0247-10205)
2022-08-29 - 2022-10-31
Academic year 2021/2022
Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector (SG0247-10078)
2021-08-30 - 2021-11-01
Academic year 2021/2022
Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector (SG0247-10079)
2021-08-30 - 2021-11-01
Academic year 2020/2021
Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector (SG0247-10068)
2020-08-31 - 2020-11-01
Academic year 2020/2021
Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector (SG0247-10318)
2020-08-31 - 2021-01-17
Academic year 2019/2020
Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector (SG0247-10015)
2019-09-02 - 2019-10-31
Academic year 2019/2020
Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector (SG0247-10016)
2019-09-02 - 2019-10-31
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
SG0247 Structure and Politics of the Global Forest Sector, 15.0 Credits
Den internationella skogssektorn - Struktur och politikSubjects
Forest Science Business Administration Forest science Business AdministrationEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Single module | 15.0 | 0101 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge equivalent to 120 credits at basic level including- 60 credits Forest Science or
- 60 credits Forest Management or
- 60 credits Agricultural Science or
- 60 credits Rural Development or
- 60 credits Business Administration or
- 60 credits Economics or
- 60 credits Political Science
and
English 6
Objectives
The main objective of this course is to give the students the knowledge to critically reflect upon, and discuss, the role of the forest sector for society in a global perspective, and how the sector interacts with society and the external economy.
After completing the course, students should be able to:
describe and explain the forest resources development over time in different regions, especially in relation to other forms of land use;
explain main features and regional differences of the global forest industry, including capacity, production, trade, economic significance, and structural change;
relate to forest industry features to other conditions and trends, e.g. technological, economic, social and environmental;
describe and critically discuss the role of forests and the forest sector for global sustainable development, related to forest industry products as well as ecosystem services and None Timber Forest Products (NTFP);
define key elements of international l forest policy development and describe forest policy development;
account for how national forest policies are related to international structures;
explain and discuss forest policy from a political science perspective, with focus on partaking, participation and power, focusing on stakeholder perspectives;
explain and discuss forest policy from an economy perspective, focusing on political and economic instruments, as well as explain how different policy instruments affect the development of policy and
independently and critically discuss forest policy problems, related to the sustainability concept from a national and international perspective.
Content
The course is based on learning activities, for example lectures, seminars, oral presentations, written assignments and study visits. Activities can be individual as well as group based. Compulsory attendance is required at for example study visits, guest lectures and seminars.
The course takes it’s starting point in topical forest related societal challenges concerning e.g. land use, industrial production, use of resources, demographic changes and climate change. Throughout the course the sustainable development goals (SDG:s) established by the United Nations in 2015 are used and related to. In relation to these challenges questions about ecological, social and economic sustainability, the forest industries role and prerequisites, and how political and economic governance can be designed to achieve different political goals are discussed.
The course focus are at (1) fundamental knowledge on the forest resource and the forest industry structure, development and role in society – with global as well as local perspectives; and (2) the content in international and national forest policy, as well as models for market based and political tools. During the coursedifferent regions with different circumstances regarding forest resources, forest industry and social structure are in focus.
By providing insight into how the forest sector contribute to societies need; how the sector interact with other sectors in society; and about political balances between different interests and values, the students are inspired to reflect about how different stakeholders in the forest sector are balanced and how the contribution from the sector can be improved. During the whole course the forest sector decisions, how forest policy evolves and we reflect over stakeholders, conflicts of interest, power and responsibility at global, regional and national level are discussed.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Approved written examination.
Active participation in study visits and guest lectures
Approved written and oral presentation of assignments.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Additional information
The course is given as a two-campus solution and can be followed from Uppsala or Umeå.The course is interdisciplinary and is based on both social sciences and forest science. This means that it requires knowledge of basic social science concepts and thinking, as well as basic knowledge about the forest sector. Students with a natural science background may have obtained recommended social science prerequisites, for example by writing a bachelor’s degree in social science or having studied basic courses in, for example, business administration, economics or political science. Students with social science or e.g., agrarian background may have acquired the prerequisites, for example, by studying, a basic course in forestry or by writing a bachelor thesis in forestry.
SLU is certified in accordance with PRIME-principles, Principles for Responsible Management Education (http://www.unprme.org/). This course concerns understandings, models and methods for sustainable development.
Responsible department
Department of Forest Economics
Further information
Litterature list
Prel. Literature list and references
Please note:
- The literature will be complemented throughout the course.
- You will also search for your own literature to complement this course literature.
- Most literature will be available online on Canvas in form of an attachment or link. Canvas you will be able to access once you have been accepted to the course.
- If you for any reason you need more information and support for accessing the literature, such as dyslexia, do not hesitate to contact the course leader as soon as possible.
Suggested literature for different course moments in the course
FAO 2015. Global Forest Assessment. Main Report. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
FAO 2017. FAO 2017. FAOSTAT, Forestry Production and Trade.
FAO 2015. Keeping an eye on SDG 15. Rome: Food and AgricultureOrganization of the United Nations (FAO).
FAO. 2016. State of the World’s Forests 2016. Forests and agriculture: land-use challenges and opportunities. Rome. http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5588e.pdf
FAO. 2018. State of the World’s Forests 2018. Forests and agriculture: land-use challenges and opportunities. Rome. http://www.fao.org/3/I9535EN/i9535en.pdf
Peng-Song X., Hansen M. C., Stehman S. V., Potapov P. V., Tyukavina T., Vermonte E. F. & Townsend J. R. 2018. Global land change from 1982 to 2016.
Lambin, E.F. and Meyfroidt, P. 2010. Land use transitions: Socio- ecological feedback versus socio-economic change. Land Use Policy 27:108–118.
Meyfroid, P., Rudel T., Lambin E. 2010 Forest transitions, trade, and the global displacement of land use. PNAS.
Forest Ecology and Management 2015. Science to sustain the world’s forests. Special Issue: Changes in Global Forest Resources from 1990 to 2015. Vol 352. Guest Editor: Kenneth MacDickenA Special Issue of the Journal Forest Ecology and Management, contains thirteen peer- reviewed papers with more detailed analyzes both based on FRA 2015
van Noordwijk, M. Agroforestry-Based Ecosystem Services: Reconciling Values of Humans and Nature in Sustainable Development. *Land *2021, 10, 699. https://doi.org/10.3390/ land10070699
Corporate Sustainability Reports:
- Stora Enso (75p)
http://assets.storaenso.com/se/com/DownloadCenterDocuments/Sustainability_Report_2016.pdf
- Holmen (85p)
https://vp165.alertir.com/afw/files/press/holmen/201703067330-1.pdf
BGCI 2021. State of the World’s Trees. Botanic Gardens Conservation International
DFID 1999. Sustainable livelihoods guidance sheets. Department for international development.
FAO, 2017. The charcoal transition: greening the charcoal value chain to mitigate climate change and improve local livelihoods, by J. van Dam. Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
FAO 2020 Global Forest Resource Assessment. Summary & Main report. FAO, Rome. http://www.fao.org/forest-resources-assessment/2020
FAO. 2022. The State of the World’s Forests 2022. Forest pathways for green recovery and building inclusive, resilient and sustainable economies. Rome, https://www.fao.org/3/cb9360en/cb9360en.pdf
Gordon et al. 2014 Respiratory risks from household air pollution in low and middle-income countries. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine vol 2014, pp 1-34.
IPBES 2019. Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. S. Díaz et al. (eds.). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany.
IPCC, 2022: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC. Cambridge University Press. (selected parts)
Kusters, K and Belcher, B. (Eds.) 2004. Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation - Case Studies of Non-Timber Forest Product Systems. Vol 1 Asia
Lindhagen, A. Publication on NTFPs in Sweden
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington, DC. https://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.356.aspx.pdf
Mutta D, Mahamane L, Wekesa C, Kowero G, Roos A. Sustainable Business Models for Informal Charcoal Producers in Kenya. Sustainability. 2021; 13(6):3475.
Roos, A., Mutta, D., Larwanou, M., Wekesa, C., & Kowero, G. (2021). Operations and improvement needs in the informal charcoal sector: a participatory value stream analysis. International Forestry Review, 23(3), 351-364.
Di Sacco, A., Hardwick, K. A., Blakesley, D., Brancalion, P. H., Breman, E., Cecilio Rebola, L., ... & Antonelli, A. (2021). Ten golden rules for reforestation to optimize carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery and livelihood benefits. Global Change Biology, 27(7), 1328-1348.
Schackleton et al. 2011. Opportunities for enhancing poor women’s socioeconomic empowerment in the value chains of three African non-timber forest products (NTFPs). International Forestry Review Vol.13(2)
Sunderland, T and Ndoye, O. (Eds.) 2004. Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation - Case Studies of Non-Timber Forest Product Systems. Vol 2 Africa
UNECE/FAO 2022. Forest Products Annual Market Review 2021-2022. https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/2228765E_Inside_final_signa_red.pdf
Wekesa C., Mutta D, Larwanou, M, Kowero G, Roos A. 2023. Effects of charcoal ban on value chains and livelihoods in Kenyan Coast – stakeholders’ perceptions. Environmental Development. 45, 100809, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2023.100809.
Assessment reports effect of COVID on forest and forest sector (2022):
- Africa (https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2nd-assessment-Covid19-Africa-final.pdf)
- Asia-Pacific (https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2nd-assessment-Covid19-Asia-Pacific.pdf)
- Eastern Europe (https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2nd-assessment-Covid19-East-Europe-final.pdf)
- Latin America (https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2nd-assessment-Covid19-Latin-America-final.pdf)
- North America (https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2nd-assessment-Covid19-North-America.pdf)
- Western Europe and Other States (https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2nd-assessment-Covid19-WEOG.pdf))
Beland-Lindahl, K. Söderberg, C. Lukina, N. Tebenkova, D. Pecurul, M. Pülzl, H. Sotoriv, M. Widmark, C. 2023. Clash or concert in European forests? Integration and coherence of forest ecosystem service-related national policies. Land Use Policy, 129, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106617.
The EU green deal, https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en
Expert Group and Workshop on Valuation of Forest Ecosystem Services, 2014. https://foresteurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Report_Valuation_FES_ForestEurope.pdf
COP 27 – biodiversity and climate – Sharm el Sheikh
https://unfccc.int/news/new-international-biodiversity-agreement-strengthens-climate-action
Lier, M. Köhl, M. Korhonen, K. Linser, S. Prins, K. Talarczyk, A. 2022. The New EU Forest Strategy for 2030: A New Understanding of Sustainable Forest Management? Forests. 13 (2). https://doi.org/10.3390/f13020245
UN Sustainability goals, https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/
Winkel, G. ed (2017) Towards sustainable European forest based bioeconomy – assessment and way forward. https://efi.int/publications-bank/towards-sustainable-european-forest-based-bioeconomy-assessment-and-way-forward
+ Lecture handouts and weblinks