Evaluation of the Forest Dialogue Process 2014-2021 and the Austrian Forest Strategy 2020+

The Austrian Forest Dialogue is an instrument of Austrian forestry and forest policy to provide a forum for all those interested in forests to exchange views, to make interests visible and to prepare the ground so that a reconciliation of interests becomes feasible. The Forest Dialogue was launched in 2001 and this study presents an evaluation of the process and its progress. The study also includes the Austrian Forest Strategy 2020+, which is a visible outcome of the dialogue process in Austrian forest policy. For the analysis, evaluations of texts and databases as well as the results of a standardised survey among participants of dialogue events were used, as well as in-depth interviews of key persons. The results include suggestions for reviewing objectives and ways to better measure their achievement, as well as indications of challenges posed by changing framework conditions, especially at the international level.