Bioeconomy imaginaries: A review of forest-related social science literature

This review article examines how social science literature co-produces various imaginaries of forest-based bioeconomy transformations and pathways for reaching desired ends. Based on an analysis of 59 research articles, we find that despite a growing number of social sciences studies on the forest-b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ambio 2020-12, Vol.49 (12), p.1860-1877
Main Authors: Holmgren, Sara, D’Amato, Dalia, Giurca, Alexandru
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospheric Sciences
Biotechnology
Competitiveness
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Economic Development
Economic growth
Economics
Environment
Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology
Environmental Management
Forest management
Forests
Industry
Literature reviews
Nationalekonomi
Physical Geography
Policy
Science
SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF A FOREST-BASED BIOECONOMY
Social sciences
Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Sustainability
Tvärvetenskapliga studier
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Summary:This review article examines how social science literature co-produces various imaginaries of forest-based bioeconomy transformations and pathways for reaching desired ends. Based on an analysis of 59 research articles, we find that despite a growing number of social sciences studies on the forest-based bioeconomy, much of the research tends to replicate a bioeconomy imaginary articulated in EU and national bioeconomy policies and strategies. Accordingly, the research primarily reproduces a weak approach to sustainability, which prioritize economic growth and competitiveness. Expectations are largely directed at national and regional corporate interests and forest industrial renewal, while the state has a supportive rather than restricting role. We discuss the findings against the role of social sciences, and conclude that social science scholars may adopt various strategies if interested in opening up forest-based policy debates and offer alternative imaginaries of sustainable bioeconomy transformations.
ISSN:0044-7447
1654-7209
1654-7209
DOI:10.1007/s13280-020-01398-6