An analysis of Norwegian forest resource management, from Statskog's state management to the privatisation of their properties

Abstract

This thesis analyses how Norwegian state forest properties and their different resources are managed and have been managed through different institutional and organisational staged throughout history. It presents the history of Norwegian forest management systems, including all the different resources, actors, and institutions, and the various discourses and resource regimes involved. The thesis further links up with global perspectives on environmental resources and more general on environmentalism. The thesis highlights an ongoing issue that has not been subject to much research. It provides an analysis of Norwegian state and public forest properties, resources and the public interests at stake following Statskog’s purchase of the Borregaard properties and their current land consolidation sale. The purpose is to identify and describe the possible outcomes and consequences of these processes. The thesis presents different political and organisational voices, and it is relevant for several actors: scholars of different disciplines, politicians, organisations and the public. The research shows that in general these processes does not serve dramatic outcomes, but that it affects certain member of the public, potentially leading to an increased political debate and higher acceptance of further land consolidation sales of state forests. The thesis presents social science research methods such as purposive sampling, interviews, discourse analysis and literature review, in order to present the different voices involved. The ambition has been to present and give way to the different voices involved, and to provide a general, unbiased presentation of the processes of study.