Forestry in northern Europe: National Histories, Shared Legacies

Forest history in Europe is often focussed on individual nation
states. It is true that all European countries have unique forest
histories played out in their national contexts. But there are
common traits that all northern European countries share. For
example, modern forestry started as an enlightenment project
aimed at rationally managing resources in a sustainable way and
controlling populations of the countryside. In addition, there is
a long tradition of state-centered, management-intensive and
science-based forestry. Many of these European forestry
experiences and practices have been transported around the world,
not in the least to the European Colonial Empires, but also to
North America. In many parts of the world this European legacy is
often equated with forestry based on 18thcentury German models.
But this begs the question if there is a European forestry
tradition.


This edition of the Exploring Environmental History
Podcastexamines the patterns in the development of European
Forestry and attempts to answer the question if there is a
European Forestry tradition. This episode is hosted by Jan
Oosthoek and Richard Hölzl, the co-editors of a recent volume
published by Berhahn Books entitled Managing Northern Europe’s
Forests.


Guest appearances of Bo Fritzbøger (University of Copenhagen) and
Per Eliasson(Malmö University), who contributed to Managing
Northern Europe’s Forests.


Music Credits


Prelude No. 2by Chris Zabriskieis. Available on
freemusicarchive.org. She closed her eyes in despair by A
Himitsu. Available on Soundcloud.