European Forestry Research — Public and Private Involvement

This review identifies theoretical criteria for both private and public funding of forestry research, and compares the presented theory with empirical findings from a survey of European forestry research organizations. In most situations, these criteria favour public funding of forestry research. As a European average, approximately only 9 % of forestry research is conducted at private institutes, 40 % at universities, and 51 % at other public research organizations. Thus, the findings give strong support for the presented theoretical criteria. Accordingly, instead of privatization policies adopted by many countries, the findings of this survey support the adaptation of a new policy strategy of active argumentation on the behalf of public funding of most forestry research.