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International audience; Recently, the common “movement” gained traction on both political and academic fields. Commons tend tobecome a concept through which activists, thinkers, project initiators or opponents are defined or definethemselves as commoners. Although forest commons remained aside of the so-called “third wave” of thecommons studies, which tended to enlarge the scope of the analysis to knowledge and informationalresources, their role is getting central again in view of the recent developments. The rise of environmental,social and economic concerns over the past decades replaces forest at the heart of global, national and localdebates. This shift turned forests into multifaceted objects and opened new debates at the global scale yetalso – albeit less studied – at the territory scale. This leads to the question of how these new territorialcommons are technically, socially and politically constructed and what they envision. The ambition of thispaper is to contribute to the discussions on the renewed roles of the commons from a territorialdevelopment perspective, including methodological ones, based on our empirical results. To do so, wespotlight projects carried by collectives of citizens and public actors that try to revive forest commons in awider perspective, as catalysts for development and governance at different scales. We especially explorehow different actors get involved in the development of new forest-related commons, how resources areidentified and mobilized and how stakeholders organize themselves to support or reject these initiatives.Data were mainly collected through in-field interviews as well as participatory workshops on three wellafforested and contrasted French regions. We show that forest commons are often developed with theintent to contest or to contribute to territorial development trajectories and to propose alternativeresource management practices. We argue that neither a particular project nor a collection of property oruse rights alone constitute this new type of forest common. Instead, they result from a cumulative nestedweb of initiatives carried by local actors that translate commons into tangible experiences. What remainsuncertain and will be further discussed is the extent to which these experiences pave the way for a broaderterritorial transition.

International audience; The circular economy (CE) and the bioeconomy (BE) are two concepts seeking to address sustainabilityissues. They were both developed over the last decades based on new approaches to the relationshipsbetween the economy and the environment which, in particular, propose alternatives to current lineareconomic models based on resource extraction. Although institutional efforts seek to promote commonframeworks, the combination of these two concepts with shifting contours produces a complex nebula ofinterpretations, where the least ambitious conceptions of sustainability dominate, benefitting from theseambiguities.From our perspective, there is an ongoing need to clarify the criteria defining a sustainable circularbioeconomy (CBE) as well as its goals and how strategies seeking to foster its implementation contribute toreaching them. This clarification requires an approach grounded into sectoral and regional specificities. Wefocus on the forest sector and investigate the challenges inherent to the assessment and implementation ofa sustainable forest circular bioeconomy (FCBE) at the territorial scale.In this article, our general aim is to clarify how BE and CE have been conceptualised and operationalised inacademic research focused on the forest sector. Our first specific objective is to present a quantifiedoverview of the scientific literature, and to identify the different definitions of the concepts used, how theyrelate to one another, and to document how they have been (and are being) developed across several(un)related research clusters and disciplines. Second, the systematic analysis of the literature draws ourattention to two specific, transversal questions which, in our view, need to be specifically addressed, andwhich we investigate by performing a more in-depth, narrative reading of the corpus of retrievedpublications. These two issues concern (1) the insufficient accounting for the spatial dimension of the forestCBE, particularly at the territory scale and (2) the need to clarify how sustainability assessments of the FCBEshould be performed, especially in a context of transition.

International audience

In France, the forest-wood sector has been long established as a political and statistical category, a vision which obscures the underlying socio-spatial dynamics. Today, the rising sustainability issues faced by both forestry and local stakeholders call for a reconsideration of the links between sector and territories. This thesis attempts to understand how and to what extent new territorial logics of action develop within the sector and elicits the conditions under which these can be a lever for innovation. We propose to explore the sticking points between sector and territory through the rise of local institutional dynamics in a context of growing social and environmental expectations. This work is based on a field survey primarily carried out in the Vosges and Jura mountains. We conducted semi-structured interviews with stakeholders involved in forest management and wood processing, as well as with institutional brokers, organisations and local authorities. The theoretical and analytical framework we use borrows from geography and territorial economics and is mainly based on the conceptual contributions proposed by the proximity school and the institutional and territorial approach to resource dynamics. Through the analysis of several case studies (contracts, short supply chains, labelling, territorial development strategies), we show how links are established and how proximity between groups of actors, structures and institutions are activated. In a majority of cases, the construction and monitoring of forest resources, as well as the ways and means of their valorisation at the territorial level, appear to be the main keys to understanding production and consumption systems. We also show that, in the current context, the links between sector and territory allow the emergence of alternative postures, supporting the idea that transformations are possible at the local level. We contribute to show that the forestry sector, although often described as inertial and non-innovative, can also bear potential for change when involved in territorial and trans-sectoral dynamics. This perspective suggest a more horizontal and network-based approach to the sector, embedded in territories’ diversity.; La filière forêt-bois s’est construite de longue date comme catégorie politique et statistique englobante, occultant souvent les dynamiques socio-spatiales qui la structurent. Les enjeux forts de durabilité auxquels elle est aujourd’hui confrontée invitent à questionner ses articulations avec les territoires, dans une perspective croisée de relocalisation et d’écologisation. Cette thèse cherche à comprendre dans quelle mesure et sous quelles formes se manifestent les nouvelles logiques territoriales au sein de la filière forêt-bois. Elle interroge également les conditions sous lesquelles ces dernières peuvent devenir des leviers permettant l’émergence d’innovations. Nous proposons d’explorer les points d’achoppement entre filière et territoire à travers le double prisme d’une montée en puissance de dynamiques institutionnelles locales, publiques ou privées, et d’attentes environnementales et sociales qui pèsent de plus en plus fortement sur le secteur. Ce travail repose principalement sur une enquête de terrain, réalisée sur les massifs des Vosges et du Jura, à la rencontre des acteurs de la filière et des territoires (forestiers, transformateurs, animateurs, élus). Le cadre théorique et analytique déployé emprunte à la géographie et à l’économie territoriale et s’appuie principalement sur les apports conceptuels proposés par l’école de la proximité et les approches institutionnelles et territoriales de la dynamique des ressources. A travers l’analyse de plusieurs cas d’étude (contractualisation, circuits-courts, labellisation, stratégies de développement territorial), nous montrons comment s’établissent des liens et s’activent les proximités entre les collectifs d’acteurs, les structures et les institutions. Dans la quasi-totalité des configurations observées, la gestion et la construction commune des ressources forestières, ainsi que les modalités de leur valorisation au niveau territorial apparaissent comme les principales clés de compréhension des systèmes de production et de consommation. Nous montrons également que les articulations entre filière et territoire deviennent, dans le contexte actuel, un espace propice à l’émergence de postures à contre-pied, portant l’idée d’une transformation possible localement. Ce que contribue à montrer cette thèse est que le dynamisme territorial dont peut faire preuve le secteur forêt-bois contraste avec la description régulièrement faite d’un système inertiel et peu novateur. Cette perspective ouvre la voie à une compréhension de la filière comme organisation résiliaire encastrée dans des réalités territoriales diversifiées.

International audience; This article explores the links between relocation and greening processes within the French forest-wood chain. We show that the parallel emergence of both processes led to the legitimization of the territory as a relevant scale for the implementation of ecological alternatives. The induced changes of the practices now make it clear that both processes should be considered as concomitant, operating at a key moment in the reorganization of the productive systems feeding on each other rather than being actually the cause or the consequence one of the other. While existing tools for the evaluation of practices are largely under development, a particularly fertile front is arising at the intersection of environmental and human sciences.; Cet article propose d’étudier les liens entre territorialisation et écologisation au sein de la filière forêt-bois française. Nous montrons que l’émergence parallèle des deux processus a permis de légitimer le territoire comme échelle pertinente de la mise en œuvre d’alternatives écologiques en forêt, mais aussi tout au long de la filière. Les changements de pratiques qui en résultent font apparaître aujourd’hui que les deux processus doivent être considérés comme concomitants, opérant à un moment clé dans la réorganisation des systèmes productifs et se nourrissant réciproquement, plutôt que réellement la cause ou la conséquence l’un de l’autre. Si les outils existants pour l’évaluation des pratiques sont pour l’essentiel au stade de développement, un front particulièrement fertile se développe à l’intersection des sciences de l’environnement et des sciences humaines.

International audience; The bark beetle (mainly Ips typographus) epidemic that has been hitting the spruce forests of Europe since 2018 has led to a crisis in the forestry industry. This study is aimed at characterising and understanding the way stakeholders have tackled these events in order to draw lessons for future crises. A qualitative survey was carried out from November 2019 to January 2020 with 41 stakeholders of the forestry industry in theGrand Est, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Bade-Wurtemberg and Wallonia regions It highlighted hindrances and deadlocks in the management of the crisis, such as poor anticipation, technical and financial difficulties in leading the required operational actions, slow communication at the national scale, or administrative impediments when applying for financial help. However, the crisis seems to have reinforced collaboration within the industry, notably thanks to the work of interprofessional structures.; L’épidémie de scolytes (essentiellement Ips typographus) qui sévit depuis 2018 dans les pessières d’Europe a conduit à une situation de crise dans la filière forêt-bois. Cette étude a pour objectif de caractériser et de comprendre la façon dont les acteurs font face à ces événements afin d’en tirer des enseignements pour de futures crises. Une enquête qualitative a été conduite entre novembre 2019 et janvier 2020 auprès de 41 acteurs de la filière forêt-bois dans les régions Grand Est, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Bade-Wurtemberg et Wallonie. Elle a mis en évidence des freins et points de blocage concernant la gestion de cette crise tels qu’un manque d’anticipation, des difficultés techniques et financières pour mener les actions opérationnelles nécessaires, une communication lente au niveau national, ou des difficultés administratives pour obtenir des aides financières. En revanche, la crise semble avoir conduit à un renforcement des collaborations au sein de la filière, notamment grâce au travail des structures interprofessionnelles.

International audience; The growing numbers of territorial labels in the wood & forestry industry appears as a response to the increased and combined pressure of a globalised economy and to social and environmental demands that altogether condition sustainable development. Starting from recent developments in territorial economy, we broadened the question of the specification of the wood resource by analysing the conditions of its valuation. Through the study of labelling approaches in the Alps, the Vosges and the Jura mountains, we analysed the value portfolios built up and mobilised collectively, and highlighted the different forms of circularity in link with them. We showed that wood labels were more and more built up based on territoriality values, through theactivation of different forms of proximity. These still quite recent approaches stand up as counter-standards; based on territorialised alternatives, they question the dominant productive model.; La multiplication des labels territoriaux dans le secteur forêt-bois semble s’inscrire en réponse aux pressions croissantes et combinées d’une économie mondialisée et aux exigences sociales et environnementales, conditions d’un développement durable. Partant des développements récents en économie territoriale, nous élargissons la question de la spécification de la ressource bois par l’analyse des modalités de sa valuation. À travers l’étude des démarches de labellisation dans les Alpes, les Vosges et le Jura, nous analysons les portefeuilles de valeur construits et mobilisés par le collectif et nous mettons en évidence les différentes formes de circularité qui y sont liées. Nous montrons que les labels bois se construisent de plus en plus surdes valeurs de territorialité, à travers l’activation de différentes formes de proximité. Encore très récentes, ces démarches s’instiguent en « contre-normes » et remettent en cause le modèle productif dominant sur la base d’alternatives territorialisées.

International audience; Forest biomass can be the source of molecules of interest for the purpose of substituting or supplementing molecules derived from oil. As a result, an innovative conversion of wood extractives may well present an economic, social and environmental opportunity. The aim of our study is to better assess the prospects for the emergence of a new chemical conversion of wood and wood by-products in the Grand Est region basing ourselves on opinions and feelings of players in the forestry and forest-based industry and on the chemicals sector in this region and neighbouring ones. Our results pertain to three areas: forest industry corporate strategies for processing wood by-products, the perceptions players have of the emergence of a forest/extractive chemicals industry and of the prospects for such an industry to become established in the medium term. We naturally believe these results need to be more thoroughly researched so as to more precisely spell out the conditions for such an industry to be born.; La biomasse forestière peut être une source de molécules d’intérêt dans le but de substituer ou de compléter les molécules pétro-sourcées. Par conséquent, une valorisation innovante des extractibles du bois semble être une opportunité économique, sociale et environnementale. L’objectif de notre étude est de mieux cerner les perspectives d’émergence d’une nouvelle valorisation chimique des connexes bois pour la région Grand Est, à partir des avis et ressentis des acteurs de la filière forêt-bois et de la valorisation chimique de cette région ainsi que de territoires voisins. Nos résultats se portent sur trois axes : les stratégies de valorisation des connexes des entreprises de la filière forêt-bois, les perceptions des acteurs sur l’émergence d’une filière forêt-chimie, et les perspectives de mise en place d’une telle filière à moyen terme. Nous conviendrons tout de même que les résultats doivent être approfondis dans le cadre de perspectives de recherche pour préciser les conditions de la mise en œuvre de cette filière.

International audience; Forest biomass can be the source of molecules of interest for the purpose of substituting or supplementing molecules derived from oil. As a result, an innovative conversion of wood extractives may well present an economic, social and environmental opportunity. The aim of our study is to better assess the prospects for the emergence of a new chemical conversion of wood and wood by-products in the Grand Est region basing ourselves on opinions and feelings of players in the forestry and forest-based industry and on the chemicals sector in this region and neighbouring ones. Our results pertain to three areas: forest industry corporate strategies for processing wood by-products, the perceptions players have of the emergence of a forest/extractive chemicals industry and of the prospects for such an industry to become established in the medium term. We naturally believe these results need to be more thoroughly researched so as to more precisely spell out the conditions for such an industry to be born.; La biomasse forestière peut être une source de molécules d’intérêt dans le but de substituer ou de compléter les molécules pétro-sourcées. Par conséquent, une valorisation innovante des extractibles du bois semble être une opportunité économique, sociale et environnementale. L’objectif de notre étude est de mieux cerner les perspectives d’émergence d’une nouvelle valorisation chimique des connexes bois pour la région Grand Est, à partir des avis et ressentis des acteurs de la filière forêt-bois et de la valorisation chimique de cette région ainsi que de territoires voisins. Nos résultats se portent sur trois axes : les stratégies de valorisation des connexes des entreprises de la filière forêt-bois, les perceptions des acteurs sur l’émergence d’une filière forêt-chimie, et les perspectives de mise en place d’une telle filière à moyen terme. Nous conviendrons tout de même que les résultats doivent être approfondis dans le cadre de perspectives de recherche pour préciser les conditions de la mise en œuvre de cette filière.

International audience; In France, the specific term filière has gradually become accepted as the customary notion encompassing both the actors of the forestry sector and their activities, from forest operations to timber processing and manufacturing of final products. In a context of market globalization and readjustment of public policies, this approach is now questioned by the emergence of new forms of territorial development and governance. The article proposes to reconsider the generic definition of the forestry value-chain, by including social and spatial dimensions into the analysis. Using two case-studies located in north-eastern France – (1) the growing interest for locally based value-creation through product certification and (2) the shift from auction mechanism to supply contracts in timber sales from public forests – we show that territorial features have now become of strategic concern for private and public stakeholders. Besides, we highlight that seemingly contradictory types of logic (territorial versus sectoral) may also raise tensions in an already fragmented sector.; En France, la notion de filière forêt-bois s’est progressivement imposée pour désigner l’ensemble des acteurs et des activités d’exploitation forestière et de transformation du bois. Dans un contexte de mondialisation des marchés et de réorganisation politique, cette catégorie d’analyse monolithique semble remise en question à travers l’émergence de formes de développement et de gouvernance territorialisées. En interrogeant le concept de filière appliqué à la forêt et au bois, nous cherchons à mettre en évidence le caractère construit et multiscalaire de cette dernière. À travers deux cas d’étude pris dans le nord-est de la France – la multiplication des initiatives de valorisation des bois locaux et la contractualisation des ventes de bois en forêt publique – nous montrerons que le territoire est devenu un enjeu stratégique mais aussi que la coexistence de différentes visions des rapports filière-territoire peut être génératrice de tensions dans un secteur déjà fragmenté.

National audience; Oak (Quercus petraea and Quercus robur), an emblematic species in French forests, has a strong patrimonial value and plays a leading role in the forestry and forest-based industry. However, the industry appears to be confronted with major problems (e.g. supply to markets). We tried to better understand and analyse those problems by studying the oak chain in north eastern France (Alsace, Franche-Comté, Lorraine) through interviews conducted with public forest managers and players involved in primary processing. In order to survey a broad range of points of view and have a basis for comparison, the study area also included two Landers in south western Germany (Baden-Wurttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate). A qualitative analysis of 25 interviews conducted on both sides of the Franco-German border enabled us to identify contrasting views and points of consensus about the issues relating to forest resources, the perception of the sector by the players and the entrepreneurial dynamic. Possible future developments could also be distinguished, some of which are already discussed in the literature while others were particular to this survey.; Le Chêne (Quercus petraea et Quercus robur), essence emblématique de la forêt française, a une valeur patrimoniale forte et joue un rôle majeur dans la filière forêt-bois. Néanmoins, cette filière semble être confrontée à des problèmes importants (par exemple au niveau de l’approvisionnement et des marchés) que nous avons cherché à mieux comprendre et à analyser. Notre étude s’intéresse plus particulièrement à la filière Chêne dans le nord-est de la France (Alsace, Franche-Comté, Lorraine) et se base sur des entretiens réalisés auprès de gestionnaires forestiers publics et d’acteurs de la première transformation. Afin d’obtenir une gamme large de points de vue et de disposer d’éléments de comparaison, la zone d’étude intègre également deux Länder du sud-ouest de l’Allemagne (Bade-Wurtemberg, Rhénanie-Palatinat). L’analyse qualitative de 25 entretiens, réalisés de part et d’autre de la frontière franco-allemande, a permis de dégager des avis divergents et des points de consensus au sujet de thématiques relatives à la ressource forestière, à la perception de la filière par les acteurs et aux dynamiques d’entreprise. Des perspectives d’évolution ont aussi pu être distinguées, comprenant des réflexions déjà évoquées dans la littérature et d’autres plus personnelles à cette étude.

National audience; Oak (Quercus petraea and Quercus robur), an emblematic species in French forests, has a strong patrimonial value and plays a leading role in the forestry and forest-based industry. However, the industry appears to be confronted with major problems (e.g. supply to markets). We tried to better understand and analyse those problems by studying the oak chain in north eastern France (Alsace, Franche-Comté, Lorraine) through interviews conducted with public forest managers and players involved in primary processing. In order to survey a broad range of points of view and have a basis for comparison, the study area also included two Landers in south western Germany (Baden-Wurttemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate). A qualitative analysis of 25 interviews conducted on both sides of the Franco-German border enabled us to identify contrasting views and points of consensus about the issues relating to forest resources, the perception of the sector by the players and the entrepreneurial dynamic. Possible future developments could also be distinguished, some of which are already discussed in the literature while others were particular to this survey.; Le Chêne (Quercus petraea et Quercus robur), essence emblématique de la forêt française, a une valeur patrimoniale forte et joue un rôle majeur dans la filière forêt-bois. Néanmoins, cette filière semble être confrontée à des problèmes importants (par exemple au niveau de l’approvisionnement et des marchés) que nous avons cherché à mieux comprendre et à analyser. Notre étude s’intéresse plus particulièrement à la filière Chêne dans le nord-est de la France (Alsace, Franche-Comté, Lorraine) et se base sur des entretiens réalisés auprès de gestionnaires forestiers publics et d’acteurs de la première transformation. Afin d’obtenir une gamme large de points de vue et de disposer d’éléments de comparaison, la zone d’étude intègre également deux Länder du sud-ouest de l’Allemagne (Bade-Wurtemberg, Rhénanie-Palatinat). L’analyse qualitative de 25 entretiens, réalisés de part et d’autre de la frontière franco-allemande, a permis de dégager des avis divergents et des points de consensus au sujet de thématiques relatives à la ressource forestière, à la perception de la filière par les acteurs et aux dynamiques d’entreprise. Des perspectives d’évolution ont aussi pu être distinguées, comprenant des réflexions déjà évoquées dans la littérature et d’autres plus personnelles à cette étude.

The provision of commodities for feed, food and energy production is the main task of the agricultural sector but it is obvious that agriculture is also essential for the viability of most rural areas. Although the consequences of agriculture on the landscape are extensively described, the reverse is less documented. The objective is therefore to assess the efficiency of agricultural holdings in order to establish correlation between the purely economic factors and the landscape aspects. The study region “Mittleres Ennstal”, is located in the north-east of Styria in Austria. We apply a matching approach to obtain reliable data, then, a data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is performed, followed by a second stage for interrelations analysis. Two databases supported by the European Commission were used: the IACS and the FADN. This chain process aims to provide sufficient data and allow performing an economic analysis in a proven framework. It enables us to establish ties between agricultural efficiency and the landscape and, to quantify the impact of the landscape on the competitiveness. The results show that the considered landscape features have no first order effect on the farms’ economic efficiency. However, it does not mean that agriculture and landscape are not linked together.

The provision of commodities for feed, food and energy production is the main task of the agricultural sector but it is obvious that agriculture is also essential for the viability of most rural areas. Although the consequences of agriculture on the landscape are extensively described, the reverse is less documented. The objective is therefore to assess the efficiency of agricultural holdings in order to establish correlation between the purely economic factors and the landscape aspects. The study region “Mittleres Ennstal”, is located in the north-east of Styria in Austria. We apply a matching approach to obtain reliable data, then, a data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is performed, followed by a second stage for interrelations analysis. Two databases supported by the European Commission were used: the IACS and the FADN. This chain process aims to provide sufficient data and allow performing an economic analysis in a proven framework. It enables us to establish ties between agricultural efficiency and the landscape and, to quantify the impact of the landscape on the competitiveness. The results show that the considered landscape features have no first order effect on the farms’ economic efficiency. However, it does not mean that agriculture and landscape are not linked together.