What values should we prioritize in municipally-owned forests, and what forest management methods can best create these values? These are the questions that the Voxnadalen Citizens’ Jury was tasked with addressing. The forests that were discussed in this process are owned by Bollnäs, Ljusdal, and Ovanåker municipalities.
On November 23 2024, the participants of the Voxnadalen Citizens’ Jury gathered for a second time at Hälsingegård Ol-Anders in Alfta, filled with expectations and reflections from the first meeting that took place two weeks earlier. The first meeting focused on ecosystem services and sparked many thoughts, and there was eagerness in the room on day two to continue the discussions.
Forest Management and Administration
The second day focused on the management of the forests. Participants listened to presentations from representatives of all three municipalities, who explained their current forestry practices. There was a lot of interest from the audience and many questions.
These discussions were followed by a overview presentation of different forest management methods. Erik Nyberg from Sveaskog spoke about clear-cut forestry, Annevi Sjöberg from Plockhugget AB described close-to-nature/continuous-cover forestry, Anna Jansson from the County Administrative Board of Gävleborg talked about nature conservation, and Erik Lundh from Bollnäs municipality outlined the municipalities’ planning work, which sometimes includes forest land development.
Deliberations and Conclusions
The participants had a strong interest in the forest as a place for culture and education. They described the forests as an important place for children and young people to experience and learn from. Many highlighted that the forestry industry is important for the regional and national economy, and discussions frequently focused on how this affects other values of the forests, such as biodiversity. The role of forests in replacing fossil-based products and fuels led to reflections on whether reducing consumption should actually be the priority. The forest’s role as a source of healing during difficult times in life was also a recurring theme.
There was a curiosity among the participants about alternative forest management methods (non-clear cut methods), and the presentation on close-to-nature and continuous-cover forestry generated considerable enthusiasm, even though there was some skepticism about the ability of this method to generate financial income.
Participants also discussed the municipalities’ roles in developing new management methods. Given that the current income from municipal forests is relatively low, it was considered reasonable to experiment with methods that can address multiple forest values appreciated by the residents. Many also expressed the view that more of the timber from municipal forests should be used locally, although some doubted the efficiency of this approach due to the current lack of infrastructure for processing and selling forest products.
At the end of the day, participants presented their main arguments for or against the various management methods and explained their reasoning. Several politicians and officials from the respective municipalities were present to hear the results.
The results of the process are now being compiled and will be presented to all interested parties at Voxnadalen Biosphere Reserve’s annual open meeting, which will take place in the spring of 2025.
Research on the Process
Several LANDPATHS researchers from Stockholm University, Uppsala University, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences observed the process and documented how it functioned in practice.
The researchers are interested in better understanding how this type of local dialogue and deliberative decision-making can support the creation and management of multifunctional landscapes.
What is a Citizens’ Jury?
A Citizens’ Jury involves a randomly selected group of citizens who listen to various perspectives, opinions, and expert knowledge on a matter of public interest and then engage in in-depth discussions. This method differs from other forms of citizen engagement, such as citizen dialogues. In a Citizens’ Jury, participants are chosen based on criteria that ensure broad representation of the general public within a small group. The process usually concludes with a collective decision or set of recommendations. These types of processes have been employed in several countries to address complex issues, including sustainable development and climate change.
