Wood future or forest track?

Prof. Dr. Gordon Winder
Dipl. Geogr. Amra Bobar
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Lehrstuhl für Wirtschaftsgeographie und Tourismusforschung

‘Wood future or forest track: Opportunities, barriers and compromises in changing the use of wood as a contribution to social transformation’ is a subproject of the Research Group ‘Fit for Change.’ Sponsored by the Bavarian State Ministry for Education and Culture, Science and Art this research group explores the relationships between resources, governance, markets and environments with sustainability and resilience as driving concerns. As envisaged by the German Federal Scientific Advisory Council on Global Environmental Change (WBGU) forests and wood are expected to play important roles in the context of climate change adaptation and resilience and are bound up in desirable socioeconomic and environmental transformations.  In this context the ‘Wood future or forest track’ research explores the potential, barriers and compromises involved in driving a change in wood use so as to secure a climate compatible society in Bavaria. Attention is focused on cascade use of wood, its acceptance, potential, promotion, and issues in social, political, economic and technical terms. The research combines quantitative analysis of the timber market with qualitative analysis of the forest products industry and its diverse actors in terms of discourses, structures, interests, projects and practices. The overall aims of the project are to explore and assess the potential, political legitimacy, social acceptance, and technical suitability of projects to develop sustainable use of wood within Bavaria.    

Note: WBGU: Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen)