Gun Lidestav

Introducing Gender in Studies on Management Behaviour Among Non-industrial Private Forest Owners

The genderization of non-industrial private forest (NIPF) ownership creates different conditions for male and female forest owners. To compare male and female forest management behaviour and to examine whether observed differences should be understood in terms of gender, data from the Swedish National Board of Forestrys interview inquiry were used. Differences in frequency of harvesting and silvicultural operations were examined by binary logistic regression and differences in harvesting volume were tested by a multiple regression analysis. In all analyses sex of the owner was introduced as one of the explanatory variables. The sex of the owner was found to have a significant effect on the frequency of harvesting, cleaning and supplementary planting, but not on planting and mechanized scarification. In the cases when the sex of the owner was a significant factor, the degree of activity among the female owners was found to be lower. Results regarding harvested volumes did not expose any significant differences in harvesting management strategies between male and female owners.

In competition with a brother: Women's inheritance positions in contemporary Swedish family forestry

Abstract Swedish family forestry is characterized by traditional perceptions of the farm as a project that spans generations and a strong desire to preserve family ownership in accordance with a paternal inheritance tradition. In this study womens inheritance positions in contemporary family forestry in Sweden were examined using three different sources: (1) a national register of all forest owners; (2) an inquiry study; and (3) narrative accounts from female forest owners. An asymmetrical ownership pattern was exposed in the analysis of all three materials. Gender had an impact on who, what and how family owned forest land was transferred from one generation to another. Furthermore, analysis of the narrative accounts showed that a minority of the women corresponded to the concept transitive element. A typology with three additional concepts, namely transitive agent, transformative element and transformative agent, is therefore suggested and discussed.

A conceptual model for understanding social practices in family forestry

This paper presents a conceptual model for better understanding of the various aspects or phenomena in family forestry. In this model, land is considered as the basic resource around which work and family life are organised. With the land follows specific property rights, giving the children, as a result of marriage, the right to inheritance. To generate revenue from the capital invested or to increase the value of the property, self-employment in practical work and decision-making is needed. Taxes are charged on the revenue of the property. Gender has an impact on inheritance position, division of work, and pattern of marriage. By connecting these institutions or concepts to each other with threads of social practices, a ‘cobweb model’ is developed which allows the structure of the social reality in family forestry to be visualised. The cobweb model has been applied in order to examine social practices in contemporary Swedish family forestry. Results based on a nationwide survey, reveal significant differences between different forest owner categories regarding the impact of gender, inheritance, marriage, property rights and self-employment. Furthermore, the analytical potential of the model is demonstrated.

From the small woodland problem to ecosocial systems: the evolution of social research on small-scale forestry in Sweden and the USA

Abstract This review article deals with the evolution of academic small-scale forestry research in Sweden and the USA from its early focus on timber supply to present-day interest in stewardship objectives, characteristics and attitudes. Aiming at identifying fresh opportunities for research on small-scale forestry, it reflects on the questions that have dominated the literature over the past quarter of a century, the socioeconomic conditions under which those questions arose, and their influence on the evolution of the field. The goal was to explore key drivers for research over the past 25 years and identify emerging research themes, and by that provide insight into what developments may make the research enterprise more fruitful. With some exceptions, it is based on articles in refereed journals and to academic theses covering the time span 1985–2010. It reflects a reappraisal of the subject of the research and corresponding policies. Similar research tendencies are evident in both countries. Research historically focused on the practical problem of efficient production using a weak theoretical foundation. More recently, researchers have focused on understanding diverse motivations and roles that can be played. It is argued that the field of small-scale forestry research is ripe for new multidisciplinary approaches.

Fuel, Hydraulic Oil and Lubricant Consumption in Swedish Mechanized Harvesting Operations, 1996

Abstract When subjecting forest products to certification the total environmental load of wood harvesting machinery should also be assessed. In this study fuel hydraulic oil and lubricant consumption in harvesting operations in Sweden has been examined by using machine data acquired through a questionnaire. The objectives of the study were to assess the contractor and forest company owned harvesters’ and forwarders’ average oil consumption in practical harvesting operations in Sweden, ascertain if the ownership and size of the machines give different consumption figures and estimate the use of environmentally acceptable hydraulic oils as well as the amount of oil spilled outdoors. Diesel consumption was found to be 9351/1000 m3 ub for forwarders and 1 1671/1000 m3 ub for single-grip harvesters. Hydraulic, transmission and chainsaw oil consumption was significantly higher in forest company owned harvesters while no significant differences were observed among forwarders. Hydraulic oil spillage was estimated...

Gender and forestry: A critical discourse analysis of forestry professions in Sweden

Abstract In this article, discourse analysis is used to examine how gender, i.e. ideas of specific masculine or feminine qualities, is linked to forestry professions. The dynamic genderization concept is introduced to understand better how and why the process of gender coding takes place within the forestry field. Discourse here is understood as a particular way of using language and other symbolic forms such as visual images, which does not simply reflect or represent social entities and relations, but constructs or constitutes them. The empirical material consists of 55 job advertisements for supervisors and rangers and 142 texts and images about the forestry professions published in the Swedish forestry press during this years 1990–1991 and 2000–2001. The results show that little has changed during the 10 year period. The discourse continues to (re)produce a manifest portrait of the ideal forester as a hard-working and nature-mastering man. This hegemonic masculinity is to a large extent formed around a rural masculine identity with a strong interest in hunting and wildlife. At the same time, several texts reveal that female foresters appeared to need a male mentor to enter the field, especially at the beginning of the 1990s. It is through such a “helper” that they seem to receive legitimacy as professionals. Further, the forestry press tends to make statements that gender does not matter. In conclusion, the increased number of female foresters has not brought with it any significant change in the dominant gender coding of the studied forestry professions.

Women as non‐industrial private forest landowners in Sweden

Data from the Swedish Forest Owner Register of 1993 and Statistics Swedens special studies in connection with the 1976 and 1992 Census of Agriculture have been used to describe Swedish non‐industrial private forest (NIPF) ownership structure in terms of gender. On a national level, results show that more than one‐third of all owners are women, and that there are clear regional differences. The last years have seen an increase in female share of NIPF ownership. Compared with males, females combine forestry and farming less often. Female‐owned estates are smaller, and more often partner owned. Finally female owners are somewhat younger. Data from the National Board of Forestrys interview inquiry 1994 indicate that there is less forestry activity on holdings with female respondents than male respondents.

Values placed on forest property benefits by Swedish NIPF owners: Differences between members in forest owner associations and non-members

A forest property represents benefits to the owner, the nature of which varies between resident and non-resident owners. Forest owners’ associations can be considered as an arrangement to increase the benefit from forest ownership by helping the forest owner to increase profitability. Thus, it can be assumed that associated forest owners value forest property benefits differently to non-associated owners. This study examines differences between members and non-members, and residents and non-residents, with respect to how they value the various forest property benefits. Responses from a landholder survey reveal differences concerning forestry income, maintaining contact with native locality, and keeping up a tradition in forestry. It is concluded that a challenge for the associations is to develop the organisation in accordance with the forest owners’ dissimilar property interests.

Swedish non-industrial private forest owners: a survey of self-employment and equipment investments

It has been estimated that Sweden’s non-industrial private forest (NIPF) owners undertake a total of 12 M hours of self-employed forest work per year. This paper reports an evaluation of self-employment in Swedish NIPF’s in terms of the people and equipment involved. NIPF owners’ self-employment was determined by a nationwide survey. Complete equipment sales statistics were compiled from interviews with manufacturers and importers. About 66% of NIPF owners are undertaking self-employed forestry work. Pre-commercial thinning was the activity undertaken most frequently by them, followed by planting, cutting and extraction. In comparison to other NIPF owners, self-employed NIPF owners tend to be younger, and are more likely to be male, single owners, resident on holdings, farmers and members of forest owner associations. Sales of new equipment suitable for self-employed individuals amounted to €67 M, or 83,000 items. Based on sales numbers and the profile of self-employed NIPF owners, no major changes in the amount and nature of self-employment are expected in the near future.

Energy use and emissions due to the manufacture of a forwarder

The aim of the study was to assess the amount of energy input and emissions of CO2, CO, NOx, SOx, N2O, HC, CH4 and particles discharge to the environment in association to the following stages of a forwarders life cycle; (1) material premanufacturing, (2) fabrication of individual components, (3) assembly of the vehicle, and (4) associated transports. The premanufacturing phase accounted for 65% of the total energy consumption, 70% of the CO2 emissions, 95% of CO emissions and 65% of the NOx emissions. Transports showed the smallest contribution to the environmental impact among the forwarder life cycle phases examined.