Publications

The current COST Action E40 “Innovative utilization and products of large diameter timber” deals with a very specific topic within the forestry-wood-chain. Once large diameter was a much appreciated raw material in order to produce various timber products. Huge changes in the sawmill and timber industries as well as new technologies of finger jointing, gluing etc. led to a shift in the round wood allocation from large diameter timber to small and medium diameters as the preferred raw material. The forestry could not follow these changes in the whole range due to the forest ownership situation, infrastructure and topography, traditions in silviculture, etc. Whereas small diameter timber already becomes a scarce raw material in some areas, the stock of large diameter timber is still increasing in many parts of Europe.

To speak of participation today raises a series of questions on how the presence and use of new media affect modes of social participation. From a variety of theoretical, empirical and methodological perspectives, the contributions in this volume explore participation in different social realms – from everyday life, interpersonal relationships, work and leisure activities to collective and political action. This collection demonstrates that participation is a localised notion, assuming a multitude of shapes under a variety of technological, political, socio-economic, linguistic and cultural conditions.