Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Forests are facing an increasing number of challenges from human activities, including projected increases in wood consumption. Growing demands for forest-based products are driven by technological advances and the conceptualisation of forests as a sustainable resource. In response, novel approaches to forest management have emerged in recent decades, often based on divergent rationales and ideologies. Among these, Alternative Forest Management (AFM) is frequently mentioned in both scientific literature and practice. Its meaning and application remain inconsistent and therefore difficult to apply in science and policy. The central objective of this study is to scrutinise AFM, in a conceptual sense, by examining its utilisation and underlying motivations in scientific publications. The study addresses four research questions: (1) Is Alternative Forest Management (AFM) understood and used as a concept in scientific literature, (2) What forest management practices are categorized under AFM in scientific literature over the past decades, (3) How is AFM associated with different scientific disciplines, and what is its geographic distribution in global research, and (4) How is AFM associated with different scientific disciplines, and what is its geographic distribution in global research? To answer these questions, a systematic literature review was conducted using two major bibliographic databases. The investigation applies different theoretical entry points to dissect AFM. The results demonstrate that, while the term 'AFM' is frequently mentioned in the literature, approximately only 10% of the literature refer to AFM as concept. AFM functions as an umbrella term for different forest management practices, especially Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF). AFM appears mainly in studies focusing on the boreal regions with some mentions in the global south. The motivations behind the use of AFM are consistently linked to addressing a plurality of forest-related goals, needs and values. This study shows that AFM is not only a practical term, but also an evolving scientific concept that reflects the complexity of contemporary needs addressing forest management and the necessity for multi-dimensional approaches.