Hello Francisco, can you please tell us a little about yourself.
- I am a professor in the Department of Forest Economics. Forest economics, as denoted in its very name, is fundamentally interdisciplinary as it requires understanding and robust application of natural and social sciences.
- I was born in Ecuador and completed my formal education in Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, and the US. Before coming to Sweden I was an associate professor at the University of Missouri. I have had the privilege of working with scholars and practitioners from around the world including through the US Norman Borlaug and Cochran Fellowship Programs. I have a strong commitment to working with interdisciplinary research in global settings.
- Along an active research programme I keep a strong connection with current issues. These include my role with the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Europe Forestry and Timber Section studying the role of wood energy in sustainable development. I also have a high ambition to put my research and experience to the service of a better world.
How does your research connect to this year’s theme for the International Day of Forests?
- Forests cover about a third of the world’s lands and are complex ecosystems upon which we as a society depend on for our wellbeing. Collectively and individually, we have a responsibility to preserve forests not just for humans, but for the inherent existence of lands and species.
- Procurement and production methods can affect the degree to which land practices affect forests and whether supply-chains can minimise impacts on the land and the environment. Some of my research on the production side is examining how wood procurement can affect forest conditions and their carbon pools. In the context of the US for instance, the industry can support higher carbon levels over managed landscapes when it promotes commercial timber growth. But in other different contexts, the very demand for timber can cause tropical deforestation and degradation. The implementation of voluntary and mandatory conservation can contribute to the protection of tropical forest ecosystems. I believe that we need to actively look at mixed-incentives that support management for forest conservation around the world.
- Through consumption-side mechanisms public awareness on environmental impacts can be enhanced and, in turn, encourage styles that reduce net negative impacts. Here, I have studied how the use of eco-labels that communicate sound forest management can influence final consumer preferences. In Europe and Sweden in particular, I am part of an international group studying behavioral aspects that might promote a wider acceptance of the use of wood as a construction product to keep carbon fixed in long-term materials.
What do you hope to achieve with your research?
- I hope to advance societal understanding of sustainability – in all three environmental, economic and social aspects. Forest economics is uniquely placed to pave a way for more sustainable futures: we study how individuals and society value forest resources, which can be depleted or sustained depending on how those values are expressed in markets.
How does the forest and its raw material contribute to sustainable development? How can you find a good balance between conservation and logging?
- One way for the forest sector to contribute to sustainable development is to supply forest-sourced materials that minimise impacts on the environment and are used instead of non-renewable sources. Note that here I am not suggesting zero impacts, nor so called ‘win-win’ solutions. All human activities have an impact, but we need to find a reasonable balance between the products we consume (and how they are sourced) and the impacts they cause.
- I am keen on the importance of finding a balance toward resilient systems. Socio-economic and ecological systems are dynamic and can be affected by expected and sudden changes. From unexpected disruptions (e.g. COVID19, geopolitical conflicts, extreme weather) to a changing climate, I think it is important that as a society we recognise that impacts are unavoidable but they should not imperil short- nor long-term social and ecological conditions. This is at the very core of what sustainable development entails.
How can we as a university contribute more to sustainable production and consumption in the area of forests?
- As a university, we at SLU have a legal mandate to respond to societal problems by engaging with all stakeholders. We have a responsibility to produce and communicate information based on the best available science. When interpreting that science into societal implications, one should be care about conveying extreme views, and black-or-white narratives, if they don’t exist. Sustainable forest management is complex and dichotomous choices are the exception to the rule.
- As a society we should recognise that some impacts are a necessary part of what we demand (e.g., if we want renewable forest products, there is a need to harvest wood), and we have a responsibility to demonstrate sustainable forestry in Sweden. There is a major risk in any agenda that seems to drastically cut down on forestry in Sweden, because that will simply export any problems to other nations. It would be equal to us in Sweden and SLU in particular failing to step up to the challenge of sustainable forestry.
- In a sustainable balance between active management and strict conservation I believe we need to have both market-based and regulatory tools to promote resilient sustainable outcomes. Excessive use of regulations - as well intended as they may be - can have rather damaging outcomes when stifling very resilience of socio-ecological systems that sustainability needs.
Thank you so much Francisco for your time!
