Mistra Digital Forest strengthens perspective on social sustainability through new process manager

As phase 2 begins, Mistra Digital Forest has strengthened its focus on sustainable development. One example being that a new process manager for social sustainability has been attached to the programme, in the form of Camilla Sandström professor of political science at Umeå University. "I will be the one asking the uncomfortable questions about social sustainability," she says with a twinkle in her eye.

- I'm not a traditional political scientist, but rather I've been working in an interdisciplinary way for a long time, on issues related to the governance and management of natural resources. And the forest is one such resource, says Camilla Sandström, who for the past year has also held a UNESCO Chair with the title: Biosphere reserves as living laboratories for equitable societal transition.

Although she has not worked specifically on digitalisation and technology issues previously, she is used to thinking from a systems perspective. 

- Technology is often seen as an important factor in achieving sustainable societal transformation, and there is a lot of faith in the ability of technology to solve many of these issues. However, when it comes to AI there are also several misgivings, she says as she continues:

- Therefore, it is particularly interesting to think in terms of social sustainability, and how this kind of approach can be applied in order to create the best possible conditions for new technologies, such as AI.

She believes that this includes everything from the individual perspective of the specific landowner and people who spend time in the forest, to a corporate perspective that addresses how forestry companies can better take a variety of interests into account, and manage the forest with different goals in mind.

”Hard to ignore the human perspective”

As a new process manager in Mistra Digital Forest, Camilla's expectations are primarily that her expertise will enable her to bring the human perspective to the programme. She believes that digitalisation and the forest is an important area in which to develop understanding, and she sees a considerable demand for sustainable solutions.

- It's hard to ignore the human perspective in the issues Mistra Digital Forest is working on. At the same time, there are many powerful interests that are set against each other in this area. So, it will be interesting to see whether digital technology can help to manage conflicts and find possible solutions, as well as minimising the tensions that exist in the forestry debate, and in forestry politics.

How do you think digital data can facilitate a future dialogue between different stakeholders?

- That's what we're going to investigate, to see if the conditions for it are in place. But one challenge is that digital competence varies so much between different stakeholders. Part of the work we will be doing will also contribute to raising that competence - or at least to identifying where and how competence needs to be boosted, she says and adds:

- I think competence and understanding are very important in increasing the legitimacy of technical solutions. If you understand something, you also feel more confident about using the technology.

Potential for increasing interdisciplinarity between technology and society

Camilla Sandström is convinced that there are social science environments that could awaken interest in the field of technology and forestry. This is because social sustainability has so far not been a prioritised issue when it comes to technological development.

- Technological issues are not a strong interdisciplinary field at present, there is not much of a connection between technology and the social sciences, but I think there is great potential for its development.

How will you work within Mistra Digital Forest, in order to bring in social sustainability?

- I have my own subsidiary projects that I will be able to involve several research groups within the programme in. Also, I will be the one asking the uncomfortable questions about social sustainability - a critical, constructive perspective in order to get this integrated into the programme.

Finally, what is your personal relationship to the forest?

- The forest is extremely central both to my research field and to my life in general. For me personally, the forest is a source of recuperation. I love eating outdoors, preferably in the forest - ideally at least once a week!