Between tradition and transformation: how owners, advisers and institutions co-create knowledge for resilient forests in Europe

When humans interact with forests, we can see them as part of an ecosystem. Such a social-ecological approach helps us to think about the human dimensions of the system: both the external and internal factors (the context and the content); and the hard (institutional) and soft (cultural and personal) factors. This brings a fascinating perspective to considerations of adaptation, and how forest owners and managers change themselves and their forests in the face of known and unknown influences. 
This lecture draws on results from an EU research project which allows us to compare the forest advisory system across 27 countries, and look at how history, politics, ecology and culture affect the structures that support or block forest owners. These findings then provide a framework to explore questions such as: where does innovation arise, and what are the structures and processes that help ideas to spread? Does it help when governments offer full freedom to owners? Or is the future of forestry safer when silvicultural practice is entirely determined by the forestry profession? Do different forms of ownership affect this? What can we learn from experience?
Combining the results of a comprehensive research project with experience, stories and ideas from decades in social forestry, the lecture seeks to open possibilities rather than provide firm answers, in the search for adaptive forestry.