Mountain forest policies in European countries a comparison using RAGIN's qualitative comparative analysis method

1998

S. 263-284

Unselbständiges Werk

200066976

In this paper preliminary results of a comparative study on mountain forest policies are presented, which are based on information gathered in the COST E3 Action. The paper elaborates a theoretical analysis framework for mountain forest policies and demonstrates the application of the qualitative comparative analysis method (QCA) developed by RAGIN using two examples. The analysis strives for the explanation of policy output variables by ecological, socio-economic and institutional factors. Although policy measures formally are aimed at physical aspects of mountain forest management they rather seem to be the result of the struggle for scarce resources. This is concluded from the dominant role of socio-economic factors in explaining the shaping of policies and the choice of instruments. Population density - being an indicator for latent land-use conflicts - turned out to be the most distinctive factor for the existence of specific mountain forest policies. The organisation of land owners interest groups and of the forestry bureaucracy are important causal factors for the preference of financial incentives in mountain forest policy.