Abstract
Climate change is likely to present new and substantially unpredictable challenges to human societies. The prospect is of particular concern at the local and regional levels, since vulnerability and adaptive capacity are location-specific and many decisions regarding climate-induced risks are made at those levels. In this light, one is compelled to survey stakeholders’ understandings of their situation and perceived problems. Assessments should also include the context of other ongoing changes, such as globalisation, that will impact communities and exacerbate their vulnerabilities. This paper presents an assessment of vulnerability and adaptive capacity in the forestry sector in the Pite River basin in northern Sweden. The study was carried out using a multi-method design encompassing literature surveys, interviews with stakeholders, and stakeholder meetings. The paper concludes that while climate change will have an impact on the region, its effect will be superseded by that of broader socio-economic changes. The results illustrate the need to understand local and regional perceptions of adaptation in formulating appropriate policy measures.
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Interviewees
Swedish Forest Agency, Administrator, Älvsbyn. 10 December 2003
SCA Forest Management, Administrator, Piteå. 15 December 2003
Sveaskog, Administrator, Arvidsjaur, 11 December 2003
Swedish Forest and Wood Trade Union, Member, Arvidsjaur, 11 December 2003
Forestry machine driver, Sveaskog, Arvidsjaur, 11 December 2003
Älvsbyn municipality, Älvsbyn, 10 December 2003
The Forest Common, Arvidsjaur/Arjeplog, 27 February 2004
Local politician, Arvidsjaur, 25 February 2004
Sawmill owner, Arvidsjaur. 16 December 2003
Private forestry organisation, 20 October 2004
Administrator, Älvsbyhus company, Älvsbyn. 9 December 2003
Stakeholder meeting, forestry, Sweden. Arvidsjaur, 19 October, 2004
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Keskitalo, E.C.H. Vulnerability and adaptive capacity in forestry in northern Europe: a Swedish case study. Climatic Change 87, 219–234 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-007-9337-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-007-9337-1