Fragmented national public media debate on international forest issues: a case study of Germany

Abstract

Over the past two decades, a number of international forest-related policies have evolved at the global and regional levels. The elements of this International Forest Regime Complex, however, are not equally relevant to all countries. This study analyzes the main actors’ positions in the public media debate in Germany and identifies links to the interests of the actors. First, the study explores the international regime related forest issues. A qualitative content analysis of the public media debate in one high-quality newspaper and in internet sources of relevant state and private actors analyzes the arguments of these actors in the issues. The results show that the debate of international forestry issues is fragmented and conflicting in Germany and that the conflict between use and protection structures in the public media debate is not supported by the data. Drivers of conflicting arguments are mainly associations representing protection, as well as user interests. The ministries avoid confrontation in public. Alliances between public agencies and lobby groups are seldom. Due to the strategic use of the public media, the debate does not indicate very well the existing conflicts about the main issues of the international forest regime in Germany.