Forests have become increasingly prominent in sustainability debates because they are simultaneously affected by climate change, biodiversity decline, competing demands for land, and growing expectations of the bioeconomy. Across Europe and globally, their governance is shaped by interactions among multiple policy domains, institutions operating across sectors and levels, and diverse—and often competing—societal interests. This complexity brings a fundamental issue to the fore: what does transformation in forest governance entail, and how can such transformation be translated into practice?

This edited volume offers an integrated and analytically informed examination of forest policy and governance in Europe, bringing together conceptual approaches, empirical evidence, and cross-cutting themes. The opening chapters establish key theoretical perspectives in forest policy research and present frameworks for understanding governance transformation. Attention then turns to forest governance within the European Union (EU), where policymaking is shaped by fragmented institutional arrangements, the accumulation and interaction of policies, and competing narratives surrounding climate action, biodiversity conservation, agriculture, trade, and energy. Further chapters explore factors that shape governance processes and outcomes, including patterns of forest ownership and tenure, communication and legitimacy, digitalisation and data systems, and the changing function of criteria and indicators for monitoring and accountability.

Drawing together insights from across the volume, the book proposes an integrative framework for examining transformative forest governance and outlines key directions for future research and policy development. It is intended for researchers, graduate students, and practitioners interested in forest governance, environmental policy, and sustainability transitions.

Access the book here: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-19072-7