Laura Secco

NWFP&S Marketing: Lessons Learned and New Development Paths from Case Studies in Some European Countries

The paper examines key factors affecting the marketing of various types of Non-Wood Forest Products and Services (NWFP&S) through a comparative analysis of case studies in Europe, according to the main results of Working Group 3 (WG3) of the COST Action E30 ‘Economic integration of urban consumers’ demand and rural forestry production. Seventeen Italian case studies have been analysed in addition to the COST Action E30 experiences. Products and services are classified within a conceptual framework developed by the WG3 and described in detail according to three main categories: mass-produced, specialized and complementary NWFP&S. Especially this latter category can play a relevant role in improving the profitability of small and medium-scale forest-based enterprises and in maintaining competitiveness of the forest product-consumer chain in rural areas, but new marketing strategies are necessary for commercial success. Differentiation, integration and creation of networking among both private and public actors and the development of the so-called ‘territorial marketing’ are considered the most important tools for the role of complementary NWFP&S in improving the economic value of small-scale forestry in marginal areas.

Does the effectiveness of forest protected areas differ conditionally on their type of governance

BackgroundIn context of protected areas (PAs), governance can be defined as a set of processes, procedures, resources, institutions and actors that determine how decisions are made and implemented. Current governance modes of forest PAs are multilevel and complex, with a variety of actors, different levels of power sharing, various formal and informal rules and vested interests. However, there is no systematic information on how different local governance modes and day-to-day decision-making processes within forest PAs may cause a change in PA effectiveness in terms of producing desired conservation outcomes. In this review we aim to assess relative effectiveness of forest PAs worldwide with respect to different governance modes and linking them to the multiple outcomes in order to discern the effective governance strategies for biodiversity and forest conservation. We will evaluate effectiveness of forest protected areas by multiple outcome measures: 1) attitudes of local stakeholders towards forest protected area governance, 2) conservation-related behaviour of local stakeholders, 3) ecological parameters such as forest cover, biodiversity level, density, overall forest condition and/or health as well as 4) existence of local spillover effects defined as social, institutional and ecological effects in surrounding social-ecological systems.MethodsTo gather empirical evidence on the effectiveness and outcomes of different governance arrangements of forest protected areas, we will search electronic databases, organizational websites, use web search engines and perform a bibliographic search. Articles will be filtered by title, abstract and full text. To facilitate understanding of predictors and conditions for effective PAs, both qualitative and quantitative data from the relevant studies will be extracted and integrated. Multivariate statistical analyses will be performed to give insights into association between different governance modes, their characteristics and PA effectiveness. Finally, the review will report on data gaps and potential for future empirical research.

All that glitters is not gold: the effect of top-down participation on conservation knowledge, attitudes and institutional trust in a Central Indian tiger reserve

Researchers and policymakers emphasize that people’s involvement in forest management can secure their support of conservation initiatives. However, the evidence on the effectiveness of top-down participation is weak. This study uses cross-sectional household data from 16 villages in the buffer zone of Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) in India to contribute to the evidence base of such assumption. Using a propensity score matching to control for observable bias, we evaluate the effects of two state-driven incentive-based participatory projects, i.e. the Joint Forest Management and Ecodevelopment, on selected social outcomes. Specifically, we measured local people conservation knowledge, biodiversity attitudes as well as trust in and satisfaction with the tiger reserve management authorities. We found that the effects of participatory management on conservation knowledge were positive, but negligible. We found no significant effects on local people’s biodiversity attitudes, trust and satisfaction with the tiger reserve management authorities. Top-down and externally induced participation may explain our results. Our findings clearly indicate that the effectiveness of participatory conservation interventions is conditional on the level and nature of local participation. Top-down participatory projects may not be sufficient to generate local support of conservation and in some cases, they may even exacerbate local conflicts.

'Net-system' models versus traditional models in NWFP marketing: the case of mushrooms.

Marketing strategies for successful non-wood forest product (NWFP) commercialization are important especially in those rural economies where NWFPs represent a considerable source of income for small and medium-scale forest-based enterprises. Two different organisational models in mushrooms marketing—a ‘traditional approach’ and a ‘net-system approach’—are compared through a case-study research approach. The first model is usually based on single large-scale enterprises producing large quantities of standardized, mass-market oriented products; its main commercial goal is the improvement of the value-chain from producer to end-users, with no special links or integration between the production area and the producers. The second, quite new approach is based on several integrated small and medium-scale rural-based enterprises supplying relatively limited quantities of high quality products, oriented to niche markets. In this case, product specialty identification, complementary actions, integration, and clustering among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within the same production area are the most important goals. In the case studies, both organisational models have proved to be feasible and working with respect to the respective goals. Traditional large-scale enterprises, based on vertical integration and a short value chain, can achieve substantial economic performance; however, these are unlikely to have a significant positive impact on the socio-economic local context and are threatened by high business risk (mainly due to its strong specialization on a ‘climate-dependent’ NWFP). The analysed forest-based business model founded on networking, which involves not only forest-based SMEs but also other institutional, economic, and social actors, has proved to be not only economically viable and less risky with respect to the traditional model, but also more equitable in distribution of benefits, and effective in stimulating the local economy as a whole, integrated system based on NWFPs and related environmental services.

Exploring the willingness to pay for forest ecosystem services by residents of the Veneto Region

Forests produce a wide array of goods, both private and public. The demand for forest ecosystem services is increasing in many European countries, yet there is still a scarcity of data on values at regional scale for Alpine areas. A Choice Experiment survey has been conducted in order to explore preferences, uses and the willingness of the Veneto population to pay for ecosystem services produced by regional mountain forests. The results show that willingness to pay is significant for recreation and C-sequestration but not for biodiversity conservation, landscape and other ecosystem services. These findings question the feasibility of developing market-based mechanisms in Veneto at present and cast light on the possible role of public institutions in promoting policy actions to increase the general awareness of forest-related ecosystem services.

Innovative Elements of the Proposed Evaluation Method and Indications for Improving Monitoring and Evaluation Activities in Rural Development Policy

This chapter presents the innovative elements proposed in the method for quantifying and qualifying the endowment of social capital in Local Action Groups of the EU LEADER initiative. In sum, the innovative elements of the evaluation correspond to a deep scrutiny of the economic implications of social capital in rural areas; the identification of different dimensions and sub-dimensions of social capital and rural governance; the use of Social Network Analysis for the elaboration of data regarding information sharing, reputational power, and trust among actors; the proposal of a large set of indicators selected after a careful phase of testing in the field; the validation of a methodology in the field; and a first attempt at measuring governance in relation to social capital. The chapter concludes with recommendations on the implementation of the method for improving monitoring and evaluation activities in rural development policy.

Social Capital, Network Governance and Social Innovation: Towards a New Paradigm?

The existence of a two-way connection between social capital and network governance has been identified in the literature. Social capital has been positively linked to the promotion of rural development for sustaining new forms of governance, while network governance is considered a pre-condition to the creation of social capital. Currently, attention is focusing on their role in fostering social innovation, paving the way for an emerging paradigm in rural development. First, the chapter highlights the conceptual framework linking social capital and network governance. Secondly, it specifically presents elements for assessing the effects of social capital on governance in the case of the LEADER Approach. Finally, it draws out the process whereby social capital and governance might catalyse social innovation at the local level.

Introduction: Motivation, Aim and Contributions

The chapter offers an introduction to the relationship between social capital and local development processes in European rural areas. Focusing on the EU LEADER initiative, the chapter draws attention to how social factors of each territory influence socio-economic variables, thus explaining heterogeneity in socio-economic outcomes. The chapter highlights that despite the pressing social needs arising from the recent economic and financial crises, EU funding and decision-making bodies have not explicitly addressed and assessed the role of social dynamics and specifically of social capital, which still remain a black box.

What Future for LEADER as a Catalyst of Social Innovation

The LEADER Approach was initially designed to promote innovation in European rural areas by sustaining a bottom-up approach to local development. Nowadays the LEADER Approach includes elements that are generally considered to support social innovation. Classical features of the LEADER Approach – for example, area-based development strategies and cooperation and networking – are considered catalysts of social innovation as well. By drawing on key elements which support social innovation, the chapter discusses the future role of the LEADER Approach and Local Action Groups, and debates the challenges and potentials of the new rural development policy within emerging social, environmental and economic needs.

State Forest Management Organisations in Europe: A comparison using Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis

State Forest Management Organizations (SFMOs) play a crucial role in 10 the European forest sector, managing almost half the forests in the region. SFMOs 11 are often managed for timber production only whereas, being publicly owned, they 12 should play an important role in providing a vast range of public goods (e.g. soil 13 protection, biodiversity conservation). Their management goals depend on the 14 history and current conditions of the forest sector at a national level, as well as 15 different challenges and the potential for development. Although there is a lack of 16 knowledge about the current performance of SFMOs, there have been recent 17 changes to their management goals and practices in response to the new demands 18 expressed by society (e.g. transparency, social inclusion). The main purpose of this 19 study is to analyse the current situation of SFMOs by clustering them according to 20 indicators that reflect three pillars of the common understanding of sustainable 21 forest management (SFM) concept. With the help of Principal Component Analysis 22 (PCA), we grouped countries according to common characteristics of the forest 23 sector at the national level. Results show three main clusters of SFMOs in Europe. 24 The first cluster has rather small but commercially-oriented forestry unit together 25 with other business activities and a strong focus on public services. The second sees 26 itself as the protector of public interest, rather than commercially-oriented 27 organisations. The third is mainly profit-seeking. The existence of diverse SFMO 28 clusters shows the possibility of different approaches for SFM with a focus on different 29 goals (e.g. profit gaining, public service delivery). 30