Current developments in Central Europe will have far-reaching consequences on the region’s forestry and related institutional arrangements, such as forest administration, extension services and forest research. Future prospects for the rural population living on income from forestry will considerably depend on how individuals and organisations react in view of these changes. It will be vitally important how forest owners and managers apply new knowledge in forestry and how organisations best deal with the emerging changes. Innovation and entrepreneurship are main driving forces for economic growth, competitiveness and employment creation, especially in rural areas. From 2001 to 2003, the EFI Regional Project Centre INNOFORCE conducted research on innovation and entrepreneurship in forestry in Central Europe, seeking answers to the following questions: What is the situation and perceived future outlook for forestry in the region? How important are innovation and entrepreneurship considered in the sector? How much innovation and entrepreneurship is actually taking place? What are supporting and impeding factors? The research report provides new knowledge on innovation behaviour of forest holdings and forest related innovation systems in Central Europe and on changes that are necessary to enhance innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector. Survey results are accompanied by lessons learned from more than 30 cases referring to innovations in forestry implemented in eight countries.

Forestry has long been in a rather favourable position in offering a valuable raw material source in high demand. However, with rapidly changing end-user demands and cost competitiveness within the forest and wood chain as a whole, the industry is needing to adapt. Explaining entrepreneurial action as part of a chain of comprehensive value-added processes leads to a new perception of forest production and wood processing. This book applies the main concepts of modern managerial science to the world of forestry and is the perfect book for students studying forestry and wood processing, as well as entrepreneurs and managers within the sector. Topics are covered from an entrepreneurial perspective and include perspectives from accounting, finance, economics, supply chain management, marketing and strategy.

Yet another book on the topic of ‘Sustainable Forest Management’ can only be justified by new information that is of direct relevance. The contents of this volume concentrate on the very latest factors and developments, thus, hopefully, contributing both to the book’s attractiveness and to closing gaps in the discipline’s database. This book is written for researchers in the field of forest management, international forestry, and climate change-related issues, legal and policy advisors, as well as for managers of private companies who deal with SFM. The authors of the various sections are scientists in the field of forestry and other environmental sciences. They represent different institutions, mainly universities and research agencies in Germany, but also high-level international institutions in development co-operation, such as the World Bank, FAO, and IIASA. The scope of the book is to refresh the meanings and perceptions of SFM against the background of the rapid changes in our natural and social environment. Climate change and the rapid increase of atmospheric CO concentration is a global process 2 with negative impacts of different kinds, among others on natural ecosystems such as forests. A crucial issue therefore is how forest management can contribute to forest conservation in light of changing climatic conditions. Moreover, policy changes such as the introduction of certification schemes and the new emphasis laid on Non-Wood Forest Products justify the re-evaluation of the role of SFM in delivering ecological goods and services from our forests.

Innovation in Forestry Territorial and Value Chain Relationships Edited by Gerhard Weiss, Davide Pettenella, Pekka Ollonqvist and Bill Slee Innovation is increasingly recognized as a key factor in environmental protection and sustainable development in forestry and forest-based industries. This volume provides a comprehensive theoretical foundation for the analysis of innovation processes and policies in a traditional, rural sector as well as presenting empirical analyses of innovation processes from major innovation areas. Innovative solutions are analysed in wood-related value chains, including timber-frame construction, furniture, bio-energy and forest transportation. Territorial services of the forest sector are examined, including various types of forest ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, non-wood products and recreation. Innovation in Forestry is essential reading for researchers and policy makers in forestry and environmental sciences.