Stakeholders' perceptions of participation in forest policy: A case study from Baden-Württemberg

We found a mix of perceptions and attitudes toward participation among different actor groups, with private forest owners being the most skeptical and nature conservation groups the greatest proponents of increased participation. Among the state forest service staff, perceptions differed greatly; with high-level bureaucrats being more positive than street level personnel. Yet, regardless of these perceptions, the increasing trend toward civil society participation in forest policy is seen as hardly affecting the ideologies and interests of the involved groups. Hence, no substantial mutual policy learning amongst stakeholders, or improvement of the overall relationship amongst actors representing production and conservation interests, is observed. Yet, we conclude the paper by pointing out that it is too early to assess the long-term effects of increased participation in forest policy-making.