NaBioKom* is one of 15 research projects that will receive a total of approximately €7.2 million in funding from the BMEL through 2025, following the call for proposals titled “Communication for Forest Conservation and Sustainable Forest Management.” On November 26–27, the researchers, including the IfLS, participated in the FNR status seminar. They presented and discussed the project results to date with the aim of strengthening the network among the various stakeholders, exchanging experiences, and identifying further research needs. Ultimately, the goal is also to ensure that the findings are applied in the most practical way possible.
Based on various quantitative and qualitative surveys as well as events, the research projects yielded many new insights into the perspectives of forest owners, young adults under 30, recreation seekers, and other stakeholders regarding forest condition, forest management, and forest conservation. It also became clear that a diverse range of stakeholders shape and participate in the forest dialogue at the regional or supraregional level: forestry organizations, foresters, forest owners, associations, municipalities, nature parks and biosphere reserves, the hunting community, and many others. Practical and regional approaches are evident, for example, in training programs for forest educators and teachers as multipliers, in roundtable discussions for conflict resolution, or in campaigns with forest owners. NaBioKom developed dialogue approaches for nature parks and biosphere reserves that can support the Forest Dialogue through knowledge transfer, networking, and project work, as well as by assuming a mediating or facilitating role.
From the participants’ perspective, it is important that the forest dialogue is not merely seen as a means to promote one’s own topics and content. Instead, the exchange should be used to continually re-examine one’s own perspectives and to be open to other perspectives as well.
Follow this link to the event’s website. For more information on the NaBioKom project: nabiokom.ifls.de
Contact persons at IfLS: Marie Sophie Schmidt (schmidt[at]ifls.de); Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de)
