Improving the communication methods and practises in the forest sector of the Republic of Karelia

Background:
Political factors: In 1999 the Government of the Republic of Karelia approved the Concept of socio-economical development on 1999 – 2002 – 2010 “Revival of Karelia”. In the preface of the Concept (2nd ed. Petrozavodsk 2000 ) it’s purpose was defined as “raising the living-standard of the people of Karelia”. The main activities of the Government were concentrated in four directions: raising economic effectiveness, growth of the regional income, settlement of the social problems, and raising the welfare of the people. Six priority means to make the concept true were listed. Improving the forest sector was the first one in the list.

As the targets for developing the Karelian Forest Sector (KFS) were specified, the general objective included the effective use and renewal of the forest resources, and increasing demand and supply for the forest products.

The first step objective (for 2002) stated that the intensified functional structure of the KFS was the precondition for revitalising the KFS and new investments in particular.

In the context of the forest, the basic message of the governmental Concept is similar to the ideas developed during the process of the project “Improving the communication methods and practices in the forest sector of the Republic of Karelia”. Among the multitude of the fields of management the project concentrated in the problems of communication because communication is a key factor in solving also the problems of the other fields of management.

Institutional factors: During the transition towards the market economy the Karelian forest sector is facing dramatic changes. Nowadays the forests are in the state property, i.e. the state takes care of the forest management, including protection, while private forest companies mostly do cuttings. As a new situation, this causes a problem of identification of the common objectives between (a) the state, as the owner and manager of the forest resources, (b) its different bodies dealing with forests, and (c) forest companies using forests for economic benefit. During the Soviet era the centrally planned economy incorporated command-based sector management, and planning could not ensure any cooperation among the parties within the forest sector. Interactive communication is a basic factor in creating cooperation between the parties.

Economic and financial factors: The other point of concern is the necessity of investments into the KFS for its further development. So far, the investment projects of domestic and foreign investors have failed. Among the other reasons of failure, the closed way of operations exercised by the KFS actors and lack of information about the KFS, both nationally and internationally, have been recognised. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the methods and practices of the internal communication between the KFS actors, on the one hand, and with their domestic and foreign partners, on the other hand. This will promote marketing of the Karelian wood-based products and improve the image of the KFS as a potential for investments.

Social and cultural conditions: The transitional economy has significantly increased the number of participants in the forest sector activities. Today there are at least the following stakeholders: the State, forest management organs, forest users, citizens and NGOs. The population and NGOs are not involved in forest use regulation at the stage of planning and implementation. There is a need of open communication with the public from the viewpoint of both the democratisation process and the public’s relationship with the forest (fire protection, multiple forest uses, traditional forest culture etc.).

Objectives

Overall objective and indicators of the project were to promote development of the KFS by improving its interaction on the internal, national and international levels. Project purpose and indicators were to improve means and skills to develop communication practice of the KFS.

Activities undertaken

During the project following activities were carried out:

• Launching conference, Petrozavodsk, 14.11.2001


• Round-table discussions on forest communication


• Two workshops in Petrozavodsk and one both in Kajaani and Moscow, Pushkino


• Communication course, Petrozavodsk, 12-13.04.2002


• Designing of the Karelian FCP


• Concluding conference, Petrozavodsk, 14.05.2002


• Project management and leadership