Gerhard Weiss - Research Projects

Title:	Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Forestry in Central Europe (INNOFORCE) (www.efi-innoforce.org)

Type of Project:	Research Project/Network

Leader:	Peter Glück, Ewald Rametsteiner

Project Collaborator:	Ewald Rametsteiner, Klaus Kubeczko, Gerhard Weiss

in cooperation with:	Europäisches Forstinstitut (Finnland), nationale Partner in mittel- und osteuropäischen Staaten

Keywords:	Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Institutional System, Innovation System

Theory/Method:	Systems of Innovation, Survey, Case Studies, Best Practice

Description:	The project pursues the following objectives:(1) analysis of knowledge and information fluxes at forest managers as regards technological and procedural innovations;(2) determination of the innovation potential and existing institutional barriers of innovative and entrepreneurial behaviour;(3) elaboration of concepts and instruments for strengthening entrepreneurship and innovations in forestry. The project is thought to become the common project of the EFI Regional Project Centre "Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Forestry in Central Europe" .

Beginning/End:	2001 - 2004

Funding:	all project parts national (Austria: BM f. Umwelt, Landwirtschaft und Wasserwirtschaft)

Status:	ongoing

Publications:	sh. Innoforce homepage.

Title:	Evaluation of Sustainable Forest Management Policy

Type of Project:	Research project

Leader:	Peter Glück

Project Collaborator:	Gerhard Weiss

in cooperation with:	---

Keywords:	Policy analysis, sustainable forest management, political instruments

Theory/Method:	Policy analysis

Description:	Since the UN Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED) in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, a world-wide negotiation proc-ess has been going on with the aim of ensuring "sustainable manage-ment, conservation and sustainable development of forests". Yet, very little is known about the effects of existing policy tools aiming at sustain-able forest management and, naturally, even less about new ones. Thus, the objective of the research project is to advance the study of the im-pacts and outcomes of policy tools for ensuring sustainable forest man-agement and of the preconditions for their formulation and implementa-tion. For each type of policy instrument (regulatory, economic and informa-tional), two prominent examples of existing and proposed policy tools are chosen. To explain success or failure of existing policy tools, their choice and implementation by the policy-making system is analysed with regard to: problem structure; the political, institutional and economic situation; as well as values, ideologies and interests of the political actors. Further-more, the acceptance of new policy tools by representatives of political parties, forest and environmental NGOs, and administration (ministries of environment and agriculture) will be assessed. The comprehensive theoretical framework for evaluating the policy-making process is policy analysis. In particular, the approach of policy-network analysis is applied for the ex-post and ex-ante evaluation of pol-icy means. For this purpose the interaction among participants of the policy network is explained by using hypotheses from several theoretical approaches (rational choice, institutional theory, and value systems). The hypotheses will be proved by focused interviews and standardised ques-tionnaires addressed to the main actors in the policy field (public administration, interest groups, etc.). The analysis of official and internal documents of institutions involved will support the investigation. An important methodological part are discourse analytical approaches.

Beginning/End:	1999 - 2002

Funding:	FWF (Austrian Science Fund)

Status:	Completed

Publications:	Weiss, G. und P. Glück (2003): Evaluierung der forstlichen Nachhaltigkeitspolitik in Österreich. In: Ländlicher Raum 2/2003: 16-18 (Printausgabe), Langfassung (10 Seiten) in der Internetausgabe (www.laendlicher-raum.at) unter Politik/Wirtschaft/Gesellschaft. Weiss, G. (2002): The International Discourses on Sustainable Development and Sustainable Forest Management – Their Relevance for Modernising Forest Laws. In: Schmithüsen, F., G. Iselin and P. Herbst (eds.), Forest Law and Environmental Legislation. Contributions of the IUFRO Research Group 6.13. Forest Science Contributions 27, Chair of Forest Policy and Forest Economics, Zürich: 217-229. Weiss, G. (2002): Die Überalterung der Zerfallsphase. Die Sprache der Schutzwaldsanierung und deren Fallen für eine Lösung des Verjüngungsproblems. Vortrag gehalten auf den Mariabrunner Waldbautagen, 14.-15. 3. 2002, Wien. Weiss, Gerhard (2001): Forstliche Nachhaltigkeitspolitik in Österreich – eine Policy-Analyse mit qualitativer Methodologie. Vortrag gehalten an der TA-Konferenz „Technikfolgenforschung in Österreich“, am 21. 5. 2002 in Wien. Weiss, G., 2000. Die Rolle von Interessen in der Durchsetzung der "nachhaltigen Forstwirtschaft". Vortrag, In: Bruckmüller, E. and V. Winiwarter (ed., 2000): Umweltgeschichte - Zum historischen Verhältnis von Gesellschaft und Natur. Schriften des Instituts für Österreichkunde, 63. Verlag oebv+hpt, Wien, pp 69-87. Weiss, G., 2000: The Principle of Sustainability in Austrian Forest Legislation - Analysis and Evaluation. In F. Schmithüsen, P. Herbst and D.C. Le Master (eds.): Forging a New Framework for Sustainable Forestry: Recent Developments in European Law. IUFRO World Series v. 10, pp. 39-57.

Title:	Who are Austria's forest owners?

Leader:	HOGL Karl, PREGERNIG Michael, WEISS Gerhard

Project Collaborator:	RUSCHKO Sabine

Keywords:	policy science; sociology; values and attitudes; forest owners

Theory/Method:	theory of human decisions; telephone survey based on a random sample

Description:	In this project we intend to elaborate a differentiated survey of who Austria's forest owners are ("types of forest owners"). At the moment, we can only distinguish between rather coarse categories: forests in private hand with less or more than 200 ha, municipal forests, forests in common property etc. Our research mainly focuses on the forest owners' relationship to their forest: Is it of economic importance (income, working place) or rather a place to spend one's leisure time (hunting, idealistic motives, e.g., for "urban" or "new" forest owners)? Increasing parts of the forest land do no longer form part of a farm enterprise: What's the share of these non-agrarian forest owners and what do they expect from their forests?

Beginning/End:	2000 - 2001

Funding:	Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water

Status:	Completed

Title:	Multifunctional Forest Management - Evaluation of Policy and Silvicultural Means for Mountainous Regions (MUFOMA)

Type of Project:	Concerted Action (EU)

Leader:	Michael Weber (LMU München, GE) together with: Walter Schönenberger (WSL Birmensdorf, Sw) and Peter Glück/Gerhard Weiss (Wien) - steering committee

Project Collaborators:	Whole project: international collaborators in different Euopean countries; Policy analysis responsible for the concerted action and for Austria: Gerhard Weiss

in cooperation with:	Scientific institutions from different European countries; in Austria: Alfred Pitterle (Institut für Waldbau, BOKU)

Keywords:	Mountain forest management and policy, silvicultural techniques, policy instruments, comparative analysis, interdisciplinarity, Europe

Theory/Method:	country comparison, interdisciplinary work (silviculture and policy analysis), case studies, "workshop discussions"

Description:	General aim of the Concerted Action is to bring together policy and silvicultural approaches and experiences from different european countries in order to improve effectiveness and efficiency of silvicultural and forest policy means towards multifunctional forest management in mountainous areas. The method chosen is a comparative analysis of silvicultural tools and concepts and an in depth assessment of formulation, practical implementation, and effects of existing policy programmes applied in different countries. For this purpose the Action involves silvicultural and forest policy scientists as well as representatives of different interest groups. Host countries of a workshop will be Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland. For more detailled information see the homepage of the concerted action at: MUFOMA (www.forst.tu-muenchen.de/EXT/LST/WALDB/mufoma/mufoma.html)

Beginning/End:	1999 - 2000

Funding:	own funding, EU (Concerted Action)

Status:	Completed

Publications:	M. Weber, W. Schönenberger, G. Weiss (Eds., 2002): New Paradigms in Management of Forests in Mountainous Regions - Final Report to the Concerted Action “ Multifunctional Forest Management - Evaluation of Policy and Silvicultural Means for Mountainous Regions". Kessel Verlag, Remagen: 53 p. Weiss, G., forthcoming. The Political Practice of Mountain Forest Restoration - Comparing Restoration Concepts in Four European Countries. In: Forest Ecology and Management. (accepted) Weber, M., Schönenberger, W. and G. Weiss. Preliminary results of the concerted action MUFOMA. Paper to be presented at the Symposium "Multipurpose Management of Mountain Forests: Concepts, Methods, Techniques. 25-30 June 2000, Pralognan-la-Vanoise, F. Weiss, G., 2001. Strategien für die Gebirgswalderhaltung auf Basis von Erfahrungen aus Österreich und anderen Alpenländern. In: Moser, A. (ed.), Kompetenz für gemeinsame Aufgaben - Wie praktisch muß Forschung sein? Beiträge zur Österreichischen Forsttagung 2001. Institut für Alpine Naturgefahren und Forstliches Ingenieurswesen, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien. S. 37-48. Weiss, G., W. Schoenenberger, M. Weber (2002): New silvicultural and planning paradigms for integrated mountain forest management. Presentation at OEFM Research Course on “The Formulation of Integrated Management Plans for Mountain Forests”, 30 June – 5 July, 2002, Bardoneccia, Italy. Weiss, G. (2002): Clarification of the decision-making process in Integrated Management Plans. Presentation at OEFM Research Course on “The Formulation of Integrated Management Plans for Mountain Forests”, 30 June – 5 July, 2002, Bardoneccia, Italy.

Title:	Evaluation of forest policy means for natural hazards protection
Leader:	Peter Glück
Project Collaborator:	Gerhard Weiss
in Cooperation with:	COST Action E3 "Forestry in the context of rural development"
Keywords:	Policy means, natural hazards protection, protective forest, policy analysis, evaluation
Theory/Method:	Policy analysis
Description:	The study analyses the choice, the implementation and the effects of policy means aimed at preserving stable mountain forests and natural hazards protection in Austria. It focuses on the explanation of the policy process and the evaluation of regulatory, economic and informational policy instruments. For explanation a rational-choice approach, a value system approach, and an institutional approach are chosen. Special topics of the project are the Austrian "ban forest" regulation, subsidies for protection forest restoration, measures for torrent and avalanche control and hazard zones planning.
Beginning/End:	1994 - 1998
Funding:	Austrian Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry
Status:	Completed
selected Publications:	COST Action E3: Weiss, Gerhard (1995). Literature Review of Evaluation Approaches. In: Solberg, B., Pelli, P.: Forest Policy Analysis - Methodological and Empirical Aspects. EFI Proceedings No.2, 255-278. European Forest Institute, Joensuu. Glück, Peter und Gerhard Weiss (Hrsg., 1996). Forestry in the Context of Rural Development: Future Research Needs. Tagungsband zur Konferenz, 15 - 17 April 1996, Wien, Österreich. EFI Proceedings No. 15. European Forest Institute, Joensuu. Ottitsch, Andreas and Gerhard Weiss (1998): Mountain Forest Policies in European Countries – a Comparison Using RAGIN’s Qualitative Comparative Analysis Method. In: Glück, P. and M. Weber (Eds.): Mountain Forestry in Europe - Evaluation of Policy and Silvicultural Means. Publication Series of the Institute of Forest Sector Policy and Economics 35, Wien: pp. 263-284. Weiss, Gerhard (1998): Evaluation of Mountain Forest Policy in Austria. In: Glück, P. and M. Weber (Eds.): Mountain Forestry in Europe - Evaluation of Policy and Silvicultural Means. Publication Series of the Institute of Forest Sector Policy and Economics 35, Wien: pp. 107-136. Project: Weiss, Gerhard (1997): Evaluierung der Politik zum Schutz vor Naturgefahren - Grundlagen der Evaluation und Forschungsansatz. In: Centralblatt für das gesamte Forstwesen Jg. 114, Heft 4, 189-211. Weiss, Gerhard (1998): Bewertung der Maßnahmen zur Schutzwaldverbesserung. 4 Bände. Projektbericht an das Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft. Wien. Weiss, Gerhard (1999): Behörden kämpfen gegen starke Interessen. In: ÖFZ 7/99, S. 15-17. Schmiderer, Hermann und Gerhard Weiss (1999): Die Bannwaldpolitik in Österreich. Band 38 der Schriftenreihe des Instituts für Sozioökonomik der Forst- und Holzwirtschaft, Wien. Weiss, Gerhard (1999): Die Schutzwaldpolitik in Österreich - Einsatz forstpolitischer Instrumente zum Schutz vor Naturgefahren. Band 39 der Schriftenreihe des Instituts für Sozioökonomik der Forst- und Holzwirtschaft, Wien. Weiss, Gerhard (1999): Evaluierung der Instrumente zur Schutzwaldverbesserung. Vortrag gehalten auf der BOKU-Tagung 1999 in Gmunden. Tagungsband an der Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, S. 34-41. Weiss, Gerhard, 2000: How to attain sustainable mountain forest management? The problem of political control. Presentation at the International Symposium "Multipurpose Management of Mountain Forests: Concepts, Methods, Techniques", June 25-30, 2000, Pralognan-la-Vanoise, France. Ottitsch, A. and G. Weiss, 2000. Comparative Analysis of Mountian Froest Policies in Europe. An application of RAGIN's qualitative comparative analysis approach. In Price, M., and N. Butt (eds.): Forests in Sustainable Mountain Development. A State-of-knowlegde Report for 2000. Oxon: CABI. pp. 415-421. Weiss, G., 2000. Perceptions of Risks in Mountain Forests. In Price, M., and N. Butt (eds.): Forests in Sustainable Mountain Development. A State-of-knowlegde Report for 2000. Oxon: CABI. pp. 359-366. Weiss, G., 2000. Case Study: Mountain Forest Policies in Austria. In Price, M., and N. Butt (eds.): Forests in Sustainable Mountain Development. A State-of-knowlegde Report for 2000. Oxon: CABI. pp. 413-415. Weiss, G., 2000. Evaluation of Policy Instruments for Protective Forest Management in Austria. In: Forest Policy and Economics 1, S. 243-255. Weiss, G., 2000. Aus der Lawinenkatastrophe von "Galtür" gelernt, oder? In: RAUM 39, S. 34-36, Wien. Weiss, G., 2001. Administrating Risk - A Social Science Perspective on Natural Hazards Prevention Based on an Austrain Case Study. In: Gadow, K.v., ed. Risk Analysis in Forest Management. Dordrecht, Boston, London: Kluwer. S. 171-200. Weiss, G., 2001. Strategien für die Gebirgswalderhaltung auf Basis von Erfahrungen aus Österreich und anderen Alpenländern. In: Moser, A. (ed.), Kompetenz für gemeinsame Aufgaben - Wie praktisch muß Forschung sein? Beiträge zur Österreichischen Forsttagung 2001. Institut für Alpine Naturgefahren und Forstliches Ingenieurswesen, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien. S. 37-48. Weiss, G., forthcoming. The Political Practice of Natural Hazards Control in Austria and the Question of Climate Change. Paper presented at the HDPA Workshop "Socio-Economics of Climate Change in Alpine Regions: Impact and Mitigation. October 19-20, 2000, Innsbruck. Conference Proceedings will be published after a review process at Elgar. (accepted) Weiss, G., forthcoming. Mountain Forest Policy in Austria: A Historical Policy Analysis on Regulating a Natural Resource. In: Environment and History. (accepted) Weiss, G., forthcoming. The Political Practice of Mountain Forest Restoration - Comparing Restoration Concepts in Four European Countries. In: Forest Ecology and Management. (accepted)

Title:	Underlying Causes of Deforestation - Case Study for Central Europe: Austria
Type of project:	Expertise
Leader:	Gerhard Weiss, Michael Pregernig
Project Collaborator:	-
in cooperation with:	FERN
Keywords:	policy analysis; forest policy; evaluation; sustainable forest management; preservation of forests; sustainability; Austria
Theory/Method:	policy analysis; exploratory interviews
Description:	Environmental NGOs, indigenous peoples organisations, governments and intergovernmental agencies are organising a global meeting on underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation. The outcome of this meeting (Costa Rica, January 1999) will feed into the third meeting of the IFF (Intergovernmental Forum on Forests) in February/March 1999. The global workshop is preceded by a comprehensive consultation process in seven different regions of the world. The regional processes include the preparation and collection of case-studies on the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation in the various regions. These case studies will be discussed at regional workshops and the results of this process and a selection of case studies will be presented to the global workshop in Costa Rica. Austrian forest policy will be taken as an example to get a clear picture of the underlying causes of deforestation in the Central European Region. Special emphasise will be put on the analysis of threats to protective forests in mountainous regions, causes of forest degradation in industrialised countries and the role of nature conservation in the protection of forests. For further details see: <WRM Underlying causes of deforestation>
Beginning/End:	1998 - 1999
Funding:	FERN
Status:	Completed
Publications:	Pregernig, Michael and Gerhard Weiss (1998): Forest Policy in Austria: Policy Making by the Sector for the Sector. Paper presented at the European Regional Meeting on "The Underlying Causes of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Europe", 28-29 October, Bonn, Germany. Text in pdf-Format (for reading pdf-Files use the Acrobat Reader)