Mw.ir. M.A. (Marjanke) Hoogstra: "Coping with the Long Term. An Empirical Analysis of Time Perspectives, Time Orientations, and Temporal Uncertainty in Forestry"

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16 Dec 2008 13:30
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: Prof.dr. H. Schanz, Prof.dr. B.J.M. Arts

 Forestry is about the long term. It takes several decades (sometimes even centuries) before a tree is fully mature, and the decisions that are taken now are decisive for the coming decades, even for the coming generations. For a long time, the forestry community has been convinced to be able to cope with these long time horizons excellently; long term thinking, i.e. taking into account future developments in present decision-making, was even considered to be the strength of the forestry profession. This research, however, shows that the image of the forester as a “visionary futurist” - someone who can overcome the barriers of the uncertain future, who looks ahead and plans for long-range goals – is an illusion. The world changes so fast and the future is so uncertain that foresters cannot do else than focus on the present. This means that decisions are based on the present (and possibly the short term future), but that the far-off future is not considered when taking decisions.
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