Forest Futures : Images of the Futures of Finnish Forests in 2050 from the Perspective of Biodiversity
Martikainen, Outi (2024-11-26)
Forest Futures : Images of the Futures of Finnish Forests in 2050 from the Perspective of Biodiversity
(26.11.2024)
Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
suljettu
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on:
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20241219105270
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20241219105270
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this study is to understand how the future of forests in Finland could look like in 2050 from the perspective of biodiversity, and what values drive these futures. Biodiversity is critical for the future of our planet and humanity. In Finland, majority of land is covered by forest, and majority of Finland’s endangered species live in forests. Therefore, forests are an essential context for exploring the images of the futures when it comes to biodiversity.
The study was conducted as an interview study of eight experts, and the interview data was analysed thematically to identify themes around which the images of the futures were then built. Close reading was applied to identify important elements of the images of the futures in terms of likelihood of the different images of the futures, identifying PESTEC elements that make up the images of the futures and to understand the experts’ attitudes towards the different images of the futures.
Five images of the futures were formulated based on the interviews and the values leading to these were explored. Among the images of the futures there was one dystopic image of the futures, ‘Losing Control’, where the control over forests and forest resource is lost to a foreign actor, and one utopia, ‘Enlightenment’, where people have found a more spiritual connection to nature and forests. In addition, three other images of the futures were created based on the interviews. ‘Industrial Battle’ describes an image where multiple different industries are competing over forests and the use forests diversifies. ‘Minimum Viable Forest’ paints a picture of things continuing along their current path, but where the current actions have not been enough to reach desirable outcomes in terms of biodiversity by 2050. ‘Nurturing Forests’ is an image of the futures where societal pressure and changing values have led to a heighted appreciation towards forests and their biological diversity.
To conclude, this study unwinds five different images of the futures of forests from the perspective of biodiversity end explores the values leading to them. It shows that there are both optimistic and pessimistic views on how the futures of forests are seen, as well as varying opinions when it comes to adequate actions to secure forests as biologically diverse ecosystems. The aim of this study is to provoke thinking and provide a starting point for discussions that can hopefully lead to actions in terms of sustainably securing biodiversity in the forests in Finland.
The study was conducted as an interview study of eight experts, and the interview data was analysed thematically to identify themes around which the images of the futures were then built. Close reading was applied to identify important elements of the images of the futures in terms of likelihood of the different images of the futures, identifying PESTEC elements that make up the images of the futures and to understand the experts’ attitudes towards the different images of the futures.
Five images of the futures were formulated based on the interviews and the values leading to these were explored. Among the images of the futures there was one dystopic image of the futures, ‘Losing Control’, where the control over forests and forest resource is lost to a foreign actor, and one utopia, ‘Enlightenment’, where people have found a more spiritual connection to nature and forests. In addition, three other images of the futures were created based on the interviews. ‘Industrial Battle’ describes an image where multiple different industries are competing over forests and the use forests diversifies. ‘Minimum Viable Forest’ paints a picture of things continuing along their current path, but where the current actions have not been enough to reach desirable outcomes in terms of biodiversity by 2050. ‘Nurturing Forests’ is an image of the futures where societal pressure and changing values have led to a heighted appreciation towards forests and their biological diversity.
To conclude, this study unwinds five different images of the futures of forests from the perspective of biodiversity end explores the values leading to them. It shows that there are both optimistic and pessimistic views on how the futures of forests are seen, as well as varying opinions when it comes to adequate actions to secure forests as biologically diverse ecosystems. The aim of this study is to provoke thinking and provide a starting point for discussions that can hopefully lead to actions in terms of sustainably securing biodiversity in the forests in Finland.