Outi Ratamäki

Management of Large Carnivores in Fennoscandia: New Patterns of Regional Participation

Countries are increasingly shifting responsibility for large carnivore management from central to local government authorities. The three countries in Fennoscandia—Finland, Norway, and Sweden—are no exception. In all three countries new approaches to large carnivore management have emerged, including some elements of decentralization, which is intended to increase efficiency, and improve the equity, participation, and transparency of the government to the citizenry. Although the three countries are similar in terms of their biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics, they have chosen three different decentralization strategies. In Norway a representative model of decentralization has emerged, whereas the Swedish and Finnish model has a corporatist character. This comparative study of policies relating to the large carnivores in the three countries focuses on the actors, and their powers and accountability, and demonstrates that the different strategies result in no significant increase in power at the local or regional level.

Finland's Wolf Policy and New Governance

The wolf is an endangered species, and its conservation has been agreed on internationally. International agreements often contradict the needs and opinions at national and local levels. This politics from the top down may lead to lack of commitment at the local level. Ultimately, the wolf suffers. The research data from which this article is drawn were collected in Finland and consist of interviews, observations, policy follow-ups, and literary documents. Kooimans theory of social-political governance is used for the analysis of the data, which shows that there is strong pressure for more cooperative instruments of policy and that actors outside the state administration are active in developing these instruments. This raises questions regarding the relation between administrative and nonadministrative policy actions and national governments roles in conflict management. In addition to the existing ecological strategy, the Finnish national government is facing a challenge to create a societal strategy for Finlands wolf policy.

How does biodiversity conservation argumentation generate effects in policy cycles

Arguments in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of biodiversity policy frame conservation in a range of ways and express interests that can be conflicting. Policy processes are cyclic and iterative by nature and as policies are constantly reformulated, argumentation has an important role at each policy stage. In this paper, we utilise the policy cycle model to shed light on biodiversity-related policy processes and the ways in which argumentation generates effects at different stages of these processes. The paper first draws on literature and the theory-driven assumptions are then illustrated with insights from four European case studies on different policy processes in which biodiversity conservation plays a role. The analysis shows that argumentation tends to evolve over the course of the policy cycle, and framing has a key role across the different policy stages. It is concluded that the ways in which arguments persist, accumulate, diffuse, and replace old arguments, should be the target of increased attention in policy analysis.

Transdisciplinary Enrichment of a Linear Research Process: Experiences Gathered from a Research Project Supporting the European Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of a research project conducted by a network of environmental research institutes called Partnership for European Environmental Research (PEER). Our analysis constitutes a reflection on this research project based on a proposed ideal-typical transdisciplinary research process developed by . The aim of the PRESS project (PEER Research on EcoSystem Services) was to provide support for the development and implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, with a special emphasis on the ecosystem services concept. Our analysis of the research phases of the PRESS project shows that not all of the project elements accord with the notion of a full-scale transdisciplinary process. Despite this, a number of lessons can be learned regarding the use of different boundary objects for knowledge integration and the various roles played by researchers. We also identify some constraints with regard to synchronizing policy and project cycles and consider the advantages and disadvantages of research network structures in facilitating long-term cooperation.

The most contested in Finland: Large carnivores and the Saimaa ringed seal – challenges of socio-ecological rhythms and their practical implications

Abstract This article illustrates two Finnish case studies: one about large carnivores and the other about the protection of the Saimaa ringed seal. These cases are analysed by using the concept of life-mode introduced by Thomas Højrup and rhythm analysis developed by Henry Lefebvre. The objective of the paper is to show how the connection between life-modes and spatial and temporal rhythms of humananimal interactions help to better understand the contradictions and conservation challenges of these species. The introduction of new practices, e.g. a new enterprise or conservation of an endangered species, creates arrhythmias to more traditional practices which can be very resistant to change. This resistance is because maintaining rhythms is also to uphold one’s life-modes and associated identities. Life-modes are expressed and regenerated by different practices, symbols and concepts in time and space Abstrakti Tämä artikkeli käsittelee saimaannorppaan ja suurpetoihin liittyviä suojeluhaasteita. Analyysivälineinä on käytetty Thomas Højrupin elämänmuodon ja Henry Lefebvren rytmin käsitteitä. Näiden käsitteiden avulla kuvataan ihmisten ja eläinten välisen vuorovaikutuksen ilmentymistä ajassa ja tilassa. Analyysin avulla osoitetaan, kuinka erilaisia elämänmuotoja pidetään yllä rytmittyneillä käytännöillä, ja kuinka nämä rytmittyneet käytännöt ovat tapa ilmaista kulttuuria ja identiteettiä. Modernit tai uudet toimimisen tavat, kuten suurpetoturismi, tai poliittiset tavoitteet, kuten uhanalaisten lajien suojelu, aiheuttavat rytmihäiriöitä haastamalla perinteiset sosiaaliset ja materiaaliset rytmit. Ymmärrys rytmien kytkeytyneisyydestä elämänmuotoihin auttaa ymmärtämään myös konfliktien perimmäisiä syitä

Emergent publics and affects in environmental governance

ABSTRACT Drawing on the wide social scientific literature on emotions and affects, we highlight the value and potential contribution of the affect theory for understanding public engagement in environmental policy and planning. We suggest that such theorization complements political ontologies that envision concerned publics to arise as citizens are attached to objects and other beings in their everyday life. Focus on emotions and affects enables in-depth exploration of the corporeality of these attachments, increasing understanding about how affected publics get driven for action and how new sensibilities and horizons for action are created. Based on the discussion of affect theory and case examples, we argue that emotions and affects should be treated as crucial carriers of knowledge about transformation of political subjects and their concerns. They also direct analytic gaze beyond public participation procedures and encourage the development of novel, more inclusive settings for public engagement.