Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Forest management and land use are an important part of the environmental challenges we face. Forests are important for species and the ecological systems they are part of, but they have also been a source of debate in recent years. This thesis uses interviews to explore the legitimacy claims made by different actors in the forest sector to justify their actions, and how these claims affect the management of forests in general and Key Habitats in particular. By drawing on previous research on legitimacy and natural resource management, different claims to legitimacy can be identified and analysed (Greene 2017; Rantala 2012; Sikor & Lund 2010). A key finding of the study is that legitimacy claims are made through legal legitimacy, both through property rights and international agreements. Another key finding is how different actors absorb and emphasise knowledge and how forests hold heritage and cultural values. Finally, this thesis shows how different claims to legitimacy affect forest management and how they relate to each other in terms of normative and empirical argumentation. The management of forests and Key Habitats is important for how we tackle climate change and respond to land use challenges.