An Institutional Analysis and Reconfiguration Framework for Sustainability Research on Post-Transition Forestry—A Focus on Ukraine

Maria Nijnik, Tatiana Kluvánková, Mariana Melnykovych, Albert Nijnik, Serhiy Kopiy, Stanislava Brnkaľáková, Simo Sarkki, Leonid Kopiy, Igor Fizyk, Carla Barlagne and David Miller
Additional contact information
Maria Nijnik: The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
Tatiana Kluvánková: SlovakGlobe, Slovak University of Technology and Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vazovova 5, 81243 Bratislava, Slovakia
Mariana Melnykovych: Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Albert Nijnik: Environmental Network Ltd., Aboyne AB34 5BR, UK
Serhiy Kopiy: Ukrainian National Forestry University, Gen. Chuprynky Str., 103, 79057 Lviv, Ukraine
Stanislava Brnkaľáková: SlovakGlobe, Slovak University of Technology and Slovak Academy of Sciences, Vazovova 5, 81243 Bratislava, Slovakia
Simo Sarkki: Cultural Anthropology, University of Oulu, Pentti Kaiteran katu 1, FI-90014 Linnanmaa, Finland
Leonid Kopiy: Ukrainian National Forestry University, Gen. Chuprynky Str., 103, 79057 Lviv, Ukraine
Igor Fizyk: Ukrainian National Forestry University, Gen. Chuprynky Str., 103, 79057 Lviv, Ukraine
Carla Barlagne: The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
David Miller: The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: In this paper, we elaborate an Institutional Analysis and Reconfiguration Framework centered around the ‘action arena’ theoretical approach. We develop this framework to analyze institutional reconfiguration to enhance sustainability, and operationalize it using research methods which focus on documentation of the institutional contexts through an extensive literature review and interviews of experts in forest policy. We apply the Institutional Analysis and Reconfiguration Framework to examine forestry institutions, address forest governance, and investigate their effect on socio-economic and environmental performances in forestry of Ukraine. The paper draws on the state of affairs in post-transition forestry, its difficulties, and new prospects for economic and institutional reforms. We examine challenges and opportunities in forestry and suggest key remedies and prospective ways forward. Results show that a combination of path dependency with the rigidity of institutions and a slow pace of economic and political reforms is the major obstacle to implementing decisions regarding sustainable forest policy. A reconfiguration of social practices is required, as well as the development of capabilities and awareness raising amongst relevant stakeholders, to realize the problems, envision alternative futures, challenge existing institutions, shift power relations and create new norms, rules, and decision-making arrangements. The way towards sustainability in forestry largely goes through changing institutions, and a human dimension of institutional changes reflected in the uptake of social innovation.

Keywords: sustainability; action arena; institutional changes; forest governance; stakeholder engagement; social practices; perceptions; social innovation; transformation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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