Russian forests: The path of reform

We study reforms and institutional changes in Russian forestry from the time of Peter the Great to the present. Using archival materials and in-depth interviews with participants of the forest sector, we show the strong path-dependence of Russian forestry and how post-Soviet developments echo the reform patterns of previous centuries. The outcomes of numerous, mostly unsuccessful, forestry initiatives have been shaped not only by the common perception of forests as widely available low-value resources, but also by top-down state control, predominance of political targets over the socio-economic and environmental needs of local communities, as well as powerful informal social norms.