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Forest Policy and Economics 1 2000 1]2
Editorial
Worldwide networking of researchers and stake holders in
forest policy and economics
The former remote green forests have now become part of a dynamic, profit-seeking economy and of demanding pluralistic politics worldwide. Within these changes comprehensive forestry stewardship demands the highest competence in human relations just as in ecology. Thus, the pressure on forests is a tough challenge both for forest policy-makers and for economists in the field and simultaneously offers a unique chance for the scientists to show their competence and to develop their disciplines even further. The mis-sion of the new journal Forest Policy and
Economicsis to support these efforts by
network-ing researchers and stake holders worldwide. By publishing in Forest Policy and Economics the new scientific findings become visible in all parts of the world, independent from the country in which the research was done. To base the research on a sound theoretical background makes the results of a specific case study relevant and applicable to many countries. This is the unique advantage of theoretically based scientific knowledge, which is fostered by the review system of the journal. Sound theory links the traditio-nally regional-oriented findings in forest policy and economics together and enlarges the knowledge of these forestry disciplines. Further-more, the journal builds a bridge between the forestry sciences and general political science and economics.
Additionally, the journal integrates the
knowledge needs of both decision-makers and other professionals in the field of forestry. On the one hand they can get to know the most relevant scientific results in forest policy and economics. On the other hand each issue contains a hot spot paper in which the stake-holders discuss a press-ing issue of forest policy from different points of view. As the example in this issue of the paper on National Forest Programs illustrates, the vivid discussion is of interest for readers in many coun-tries and an intellectual source for defining inno-vative research topics for the future.
The scope in economics and politics which is covered by the journal is already shown in the first issue. Economy is discussed both through formal modeling, and also by empirical analysis of markets and applying economic theory to the key forestry issue of remuneration. Results based on political theory and empirical data are shown in analyses of current issues such as the internatio-nalization of forest policy and public participa-tion. Finally, a special contribution on integrating science and policy development opens a discus-sion on the pressing question of how science can become more relevant for forestry in practice.
The next issues will continue these topics and add new ones. The journal will offer a worldwide forum on the one hand for highly-qualified scien-tific contributions in forest policy and economics, and on the other hand for statements from the
1389-9341r00r$ - see front matterQ2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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( ) EditorialrForest Policy and Economics 1 2000 1]2
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stake holders. By networking the contributions among the sciences, practical work, and beyond national borders, the international journal aims to support the development of the disciplines of forest policy and economics as well as to strengthen their impact on solving the problems of forestry.
Max Krott
