NEWS During the MIRAI 2.0 Research and Innovation Week 2023, an interdisciplinary workshop offered an examination of transitions within Japanese and Swedish forestry.
During the MIRAI 2.0 Research and Innovation Week 2023, an interdisciplinary workshop offered an examination of transitions within Japanese and Swedish forestry.
The workshop with the title "Forests at a Crossroads: Sustainable Pathways for Sweden and Japan" was initiated by Professor Mattia Bianchi, Matts Carlgren Chair in Business Administration and Professor of Innovation Management at the House of Innovation, Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), and was co-organized by Janina Priebe for Future Forests and the research project Route to Paris. The exchange of diverse perspectives highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in shaping sustainable practices and innovative solutions for the forestry sectors in both Japan and Sweden.
The workshop took as its starting point observations from Professor Mattia Bianchi's recent visit to Japan, which revealed both similarities and differences in the forest management systems of Japan and Sweden. While both states emphasize sustainable practices, Bianchi underscored the distinctiveness of their natural conditions, forest management strategies. Janina Priebe presented her findings from ongoing research on historical transitions in the Swedish forest sector, which set the scene for exploring current transitions in both states’ forestry sectors.
Professor Peichen Gong (SLU) spoke about achieving an optimal balance between the economic, ecological and social benefits of forests, and the role of system-level factors such as cultural and institutional conditions.
Another key contribution centered on Japan’s innovative utilization of forestry for rural development, presented by Kie Sanada (Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, College of Asia Pacific Studies). Discussion centered on how Japan harnesses the forestry sector to drive socio-economic growth in rural areas, presenting potential models for sustainable rural development.
Leif Sundberg (UMU) explored the integration of AI in forestry data analysis, acknowledging its potential for optimizing management practices. Conversations revolved around leveraging AI for improved decision-making, and predictive analytics, emphasizing its role in enhancing sustainability efforts but also challenges to use AI approaches.
The workshop explored the transitions within both countries’ forestry sectors. In summary, the MIRAI 2.0 workshop served as a knowledge-sharing platform for connecting forestry transitions across diverse global contexts, offering valuable insights into sustainable practices and innovative approaches.