In Sweden, the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation have awarded grants totalling SEK 90 million (≈ EUR 8.31 million) for research in the humanities and social sciences with relevance to the forest.
The forest is one of Sweden’s most important natural resources that has come into increasing focus in recent years. Many find the debate surrounding forest management and forestry more polarized and with more areas of conflict than ever before.
The forest and forest land should fulfill an increasing number of purposes and needs, from recreation to the extraction of rare earth metals, energy and material production, to reindeer herding and carbon sequestration.
At the same time, the forest itself is under strong pressure due to climate change, while it is also proposed as a solution to many climate-related issues.
The 13 research projects that address forest issues from a social science and humanities research perspective complement Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation’s strategic research program, Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research, WIFORCE, which is an investment in natural forest science.
The world is facing many major challenges that require new solutions. We often rely entirely on research in the natural sciences and technology. In contrast, the social sciences and humanities are overlooked, even though they can be crucial for implementation, governance, and policy development, among other things, said Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Executive Director of the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation.
The forest provides society with energy, paper, and construction materials, while it is of central importance for biodiversity, provides climate benefits, and is important for people’s recreation and well-being.
More and more threats are now looming, with ongoing climate change causing periods of reduced growth and increasing numbers of pests that risk degrading Sweden’s forests.
Added to all this is increased political pressure from both European and national sides demanding more sustainable forestry.
Forest issues are multifaceted and affect many people both emotionally and economically. The forest is also an important social resource. Therefore, it is important to shed light on the issues from all scientific perspectives, Astrid Söderbergh Widding said.
The nine grants from the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation are:
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Professor Francisco Aguilar, awarded SEK 7 million (≈ EUR 647,000) for the project: “UNDERPINNED: Forest owners’ cognition and behaviors underpinning Swedish forest biodiversity”.
- Umeå University, Associate Professor Louise Eriksson, awarded SEK 6 million (≈ EUR 554,601) for the project: “Bridging the Gaps: Social Dynamics in Climate-Adapted Forest Management”.
- Umeå University, Professor Britt-Inger Keisu, awarded SEK 7 million (≈ EUR 647,000) for the project: “Changing Northern Landscapes: Forestry and Reindeer Husbandry in Sweden”.
- Umeå University, Professor Camilla Sandström, awarded SEK 8 million (≈ EUR 739,446 ) for the project: “The art of governing forests mastering governance dilemmas across multiple levels”.
- Linnaeus University, Professor Andreas Stephan, awarded SEK 8 million (≈ EUR 739,446) for the project: “Domestic Forest Governance and Global Timber Markets: A Policy Impact Assessment”.
- Jönköping University, Professor Leona Achtenhagen, awarded SEK 5 million (≈ EUR 462,140) for the project: “Profit versus nature? How private forest owners can navigate conflicting institutional logics in a highly politicized landscape to make better use of their forests”.
- Stockholm University, Dr Ingo Fetzer, awarded SEK 8 million (≈ EUR 739,446) for the project: “Resilient Innovation and Sustainable Knowledge for Swedish Forest Management in the Anthropocene”.
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Dr Harry Fischer, awarded SEK 7 million (≈ EUR 647,000) for the project: “Restoration Futures in Sweden´s forests for biodiversity & human well-being”.
- Umeå University, Associate Professor Daniel Nylén, awarded SEK 7 million (≈ EUR 647,000) for the project: “One Forest, Many Voices: Leveraging Digital Forestry to Promote Environmental Justice”.
The four grants from the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation are:
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Lars Östlund, awarded SEK 5 million (≈ EUR 462,140) for the project: “Promoting sustainable forestry in the future by understanding human forest interactions in the past (PastForests)”.
- Umeå University, Professor Erland Mårald, awarded SEK 5 million (≈ EUR 462,140) for the project: “Forests of Emotions: Merging Historical and Philosophical Perspectives to Understand the Role of Emotions in Forest Debates”.
- Lund University, Dr Jimmy Jönsson, awarded SEK 5 million (≈ EUR 462,140) for the project: “Forest knowledge in action: Historical inquiries for integrated forest management futures”.
- Umeå University, Associate Professor Janina Priebe, awarded SEK 5 million (≈ EUR 462,140) for the project: “The intersection of scientific knowledge and public discourse in the transition from natural to artificial methods of tree improvement”.
