Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Forest owner cooperatives are often regarded as a policy vehicle to improve the management of
private forests and facilitate entrepreneurship in the forest sector. This can be especially important
for countries with economies in transition and recently restored private forest ownership. This study
provides decision support and policy recommendations for the promotion of forest owner cooperatives in Lithuania. General characteristics of forest owner cooperatives and cooperative entrepreneurship are portrayed as well as the situation in private forestry in Lithuania. International
case studies on forest owner cooperatives and public policies in their regard serve to derive elements
and aspects of cooperation that are applicable elsewhere as well as concrete policy recommendations for the case of Lithuania. A variety of different entrepreneurial approaches of existing forest owner cooperatives is found to be applicable to Lithuania as well as different policy
measures to promote them. Preferably a policy framework consisting of a complementary mixture of public services and financial support should be chosen for the Lithuanian case and implemented with sufficient financial and personnel capacity in order to achieve an effective policy impact. Thus the promotion of forest owner cooperatives holds much potential to improve the viability and
sustainability of private forest management in Lithuania.