The promotion of 'innovation' in forestry: a role for government or others?

The forest sector is perceived as being traditionally conservative and reluctant to adopt changes, even when these can be beneficial. This is a natural consequence of an industry that tends to operate over relatively long time periods. However, to compete successfully in a rapidly globalizing world, the forest sector will need to be much more innovative than it has been to date. Government policies could play an important role in encouraging innovation in the forest sector yet, despite many initiatives, they have had variable success in doing so. It is likely that transformative innovations will occur that involve different actors to those dominating the sector today, and there is already evidence of such innovations taking place. Transformative innovation may not, however, be in the short-term interest of governments that have used the forest sector to encourage rural development. Other innovations may be stimulated as the crises facing the forest sectors in individual countries deepen. However, it is uncertain whether these will ensure that forests fulfil their potential in enabling the development of a global bioeconomy. To do so, effective partnerships between all the interested parties are needed: government, industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations.