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Institutional change from the margins of natural resource use: The emergence of small-scale bioenergy production within industrial forestry in Finland

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  • Åkerman, Maria
  • Kilpiö, Aino
  • Peltola, Taru

Abstract

There exists a growing interest in understanding the mechanisms of innovations in the forestry sector. This article contributes to that goal by presenting a detailed study of the emergence of small-scale wood energy production practices in Finland. Given the distinctive and institutionally strong orientation of Finnish forestry towards raw material production for the pulp and paper industry, such innovative ways of using forest resources seem somewhat improbable and surprising. Despite this, we argue that the development of these new production practices can be understood as a process of institutional renewal that combines elements of continuity and novelty. In our empirical analysis, we follow the emergence of a new forest management category of "young forest" and explore how its naturalization as part of various institutional rules, identities and practices enabled the birth of local wood energy production within the forestry sector. In order to elucidate this multidimensional change, we analyze the new forest category as a boundary object, a socio-technical category with multiple functions and identities, within the large technological system of forestry. These analytical concepts help us illuminate how various material and discursive practices--both in the forestry and energy sectors and at the local and national levels--were able to interact for innovation and institutional change.

Suggested Citation

  • Åkerman, Maria & Kilpiö, Aino & Peltola, Taru, 2010. "Institutional change from the margins of natural resource use: The emergence of small-scale bioenergy production within industrial forestry in Finland," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 181-188, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:forpol:v:12:y:2010:i:3:p:181-188
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Smith, Adrian & Stirling, Andy & Berkhout, Frans, 2005. "The governance of sustainable socio-technical transitions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 1491-1510, December.
    2. Geels, Frank W., 2004. "From sectoral systems of innovation to socio-technical systems: Insights about dynamics and change from sociology and institutional theory," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(6-7), pages 897-920, September.
    3. Rametsteiner, Ewald & Hansen, Eric & Niskanen, Anssi, 2006. "Introduction to the special issue on innovation and entrepreneurship in the forest sector," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 8(7), pages 669-673, October.
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    2. Nygrén, Nina A. & Kontio, Panu & Lyytimäki, Jari & Varho, Vilja & Tapio, Petri, 2015. "Early adopters boosting the diffusion of sustainable small-scale energy solutions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 79-87.
    3. Heiskanen, Eva & Jalas, Mikko & Juntunen, Jouni K. & Nissilä, Heli, 2017. "Small streams, diverse sources: Who invests in renewable energy in Finland during the financial downturn?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 191-200.
    4. Genus, Audley & Mafakheri, Fereshteh, 2014. "A neo-institutional perspective of supply chains and energy security: Bioenergy in the UK," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 307-315.
    5. Sorge, Stefan & Mann, Carsten & Schleyer, Christian & Loft, Lasse & Spacek, Martin & Hernández-Morcillo, Mónica & Kluvankova, Tatiana, 2022. "Understanding dynamics of forest ecosystem services governance: A socio-ecological-technical-analytical framework," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    6. Korhonen, Katri & Hujala, Teppo & Kurttila, Mikko, 2013. "Diffusion of voluntary protection among family forest owners: Decision process and success factors," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 82-90.
    7. Maier, Carolin & Hebermehl, Wiebke & Grossmann, Carol M. & Loft, Lasse & Mann, Carsten & Hernández-Morcillo, Mónica, 2021. "Innovations for securing forest ecosystem service provision in Europe – A systematic literature review," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    8. Jean-Marc Callois & Mihai Tivadar & Baptiste Sion, 2016. "The feasibility and relevance of a community-based energy autonomy: physical, social and institutional factors," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 97(4), pages 251-265, December.
    9. Makkonen, Marika & Huttunen, Suvi & Primmer, Eeva & Repo, Anna & Hildén, Mikael, 2015. "Policy coherence in climate change mitigation: An ecosystem service approach to forests as carbon sinks and bioenergy sources," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 153-162.

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