Development of forest discourses across Europe: A longitudinal perspective

Using secondary literature and interviews, this paper examines forest discourses since World War II in four countries: Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The national discourses often thematically coincide between the case countries, most prominently in the post-war endeavour to restore forest resources. This period was followed by diverging ideas and practices such as abandonment and fragmentation in Italy, resource conservation by stealth in Lithuania, multifunctionality in the Netherlands, and ongoing intensification in Sweden. Recently, the national discourses have been re-converging on the environment and the bioeconomy, albeit at different times and intensity. Overall, many national ideological battles follow the global meta-discourses, but linkages to these are much weaker for forestry practices.

Automated summary

This paper examines forest discourses in Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Sweden since World War II, finding thematic overlap in post-war efforts to restore forest resources but diverging ideas and practices in subsequent periods. Recently, national discourses in these countries have refocused on the environment and the bioeconomy.