Coupling climate change and forest policy: A multiple streams analysis of two German case studies.

Storch, S., Winkel, G.

Coupling climate change and forest policy: A multiple streams analysis of two German case studies.

Storch, S., Winkel, G.: Coupling climate change and forest policy: A multiple streams analysis of two German case studies. Forest Policy and Economics 36 (2013), 2013: 14-26.

Originalarbeiten in wissenschaftlichen Fachzeitschriften

Climate change may affect forest management not only through predicted ecological impacts on forests, but also by reframing perspectives on land use issues, thereby leading to changing forest policies. In this paper, forest policy making in the light of climate change is analyzed in two German Laender, Bavaria and North Rhine Westphalia, drawing on the Multiple Streams Framework. Empirically, document analysis and expert interviews substantiate this analysis. The 'coupling' of climate change and forest policy, and the formation of climate forest policy based on this process, occurred differently in both Laender. In Bavaria, several factors triggered a successful integration of climate change-related forest policy adaptation measures into the "Bavarian Climate Program 2020". These factors included an early problematization of climate change by forest science; a 'condensation' of the problem into particular areas with a high need for action; the possibility of relying on already available (and in parts already implemented); well-proven, and applicable forest policy measures; and the coordinated and entrepreneurial activities of the forest sector as a whole. In North Rhine Westphalia, the political framework conditions for a successful coupling of forest and climate policy were less favorable, and, hence, no explicit forest climate policy has occurred. Recent political changes, however, may allow for new prospects. We conclude that the extent to which climate policy is integrated into forest policy depends on the overall framing of climate policy, the existence of a policy window in general politics, and the opportunities for the forest policy community to substantiate the link through active policy entrepreneurship. The preparedness and activities of the latter are then needed in order to utilize the possible policy windows and receive resources for forest climate policy measures. Forest science plays an important role by influencing the agenda, indicating challenges, and providing scientific criteria to determine and rationalize specific measures.

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