The Battle of Trillemarka A Study of Narratives Related to the Conservation of Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell Nature Reserve with Focus on Economic Instruments and Legitimacy Marte Guttulsrød Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Philosophy in Culture, Environment and Sustainability Centre for Development and the Environment University of Oslo Blindern, Norway July 2012 Table of Contents Table of Contents ...................................................................................................... iii 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Purpose and Research Questions ................................................................... 2 1.2 Limitations and Relation to Other Research ................................................. 3 1.3 Thesis Outline and Interdisciplinarity ........................................................... 4 2. Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................... 7 2.1 Theoretical Approaches to Narrative Theory and Analysis .......................... 7 2.1.1 Defining Narratives .............................................................................. 10 2.1.2 Individual Narratives and the Collective Story .................................... 13 2.2 Discursive Narratives and Presentation of Discourse Types on Conservation .......................................................................................................... 14 2.2.1 Discursive Narratives ........................................................................... 14 2.2.2 Presentation of Discourse Types on Conservation............................... 15 2.3 A Theoretical Framework on Distributional, Procedural and Sense of Justice ..................................................................................................................... 19 2.4 Summary ..................................................................................................... 22 3. Study Area and Methodology ......................................................................... 23 3.1 Study Area ................................................................................................... 23 3.1.1 Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell Nature Reserve ............................................. 23 3.1.2 Sigdal, Rollag and Nore og Uvdal ....................................................... 26 3.1.3 Conservation of Coniferous Forest in Norway: A Brief Historical Review 1980-2013 ............................................................................................. 28 3.1.4 Norwegian Timber Industry ................................................................. 31 3.1.5 Construction of Cabins ......................................................................... 32 3.1.6 Location and Rationale for Choice of Study Area ............................... 33 3.2 Research Strategy ........................................................................................ 34 3.3 Research Design .......................................................................................... 35 3.4 Methods of Data Collection ........................................................................ 37 3.4.1 Documents ........................................................................................... 38 3.4.2 Interview and Sampling Procedure ...................................................... 39 3.5 Data Analyses and Transcription ................................................................ 45 3.5.1 The Process of Transcription and Coding ............................................ 46 3.6 Ethical Considerations ................................................................................. 47 3.6.1 Informed Consent ................................................................................. 47 3.6.2 Anonymity and Confidentiality............................................................ 48 3.7 Challenges and Limitations of Narrative Research ..................................... 49 iii 3.8 Summary ...................................................................................................... 50 4. Local Narrative of Marginalization and Pragmatic Adjustment: Presentation and Findings from Narrative Analysis ............................................ 51 4.1 A Local Narrative of Marginalization ......................................................... 52 4.1.1 Main Foci ............................................................................................. 52 4.1.2 Non-apparent Themes .......................................................................... 63 4.2 A Local Narrative of Pragmatic Adjustment ............................................... 69 4.2.1 Main Foci ............................................................................................. 69 4.2.2 Non-apparent Themes .......................................................................... 72 4.3 Plot Development and Actors ...................................................................... 77 4.3.1 A Narrative of Decline ......................................................................... 77 4.3.2 Actors Within the Narrative ................................................................. 79 4.4 Summary ...................................................................................................... 82 5. A comparison Between the Local Narrative of Marginalization and Pragmatic Adjustment and the Win-Win Narrative with Preservationist Discursive Elements ................................................................................................. 83 5.1 Presentation of a Win-Win Narrative on Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell ............. 83 5.1.1 Progressive Success Story Where All the Stakeholders End Up As Heroes ……………………………………………………………………84 5.1.2 The Role of Local Residents in Decision-making Emphasized ........... 89 5.2 Presentation of Preservationist Discursive Elements on Trillemarka- Rollagsfjell ............................................................................................................. 95 5.2.1 Pristine, “Untouched” Nature or Wilderness as an Ideal ..................... 95 5.2.2 Needs, Interests and Involvement of Local Resource Users Ignored .. 98 5.2.3 Government Mandated Conservation Necessary Due to Weaknesses of Local Democracy .................................................................... 101 5.3 Comparison of the Local Narrative of Marginalization and Pragmatic Adjustment with the Win-Win Narrative with Preservationist Discursive Elements ............................................................................................................... 103 5.4 Conflicting Interests and Interpretations of Conservation in Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell ....................................................................................... 108 5.4.1 Conflicting Interests of Conservation in Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell .... 108 5.4.2 Conflicting Interpretations of Forest Conservation in Trillemarka- Rollagsfjell ....................................................................................................... 109 5.5 Local Narrative of Marginalization and Pragmatic Adjustment as a result of the Win-Win Narrative with Preservationist Discursive elements: Schismogenesis and Expressive Competition ...................................................... 124 5.6 Summary .................................................................................................... 132 6. Concluding Remarks...................................................................................... 133 References ............................................................................................................ 135 iv Acknowledgement This thesis marks the end of two years with hard work. It has however mostly been a rewarding and fun experience, thanks to first of all my thirty-five informants who generously shared their time and thoughts with me. This made my fieldwork a truly memorable experience, with many great meetings and conversations. I also feel deeply grateful for advices and lots of patience from my two inspiring supervisors Hanne Svarstad and Karen L. Syse. Hanne followed me throughout the whole process, whereas Karen did the final review and also provided me with some useful tips along the way. To my wonderful friends and fellow students at SUM: Thank you for sharing ideas, coffees, frustrations, joy and late dinners with me! Your support has been crucial for keeping up my motivation throughout the year. Thanks to close friends and family whose support and attention has also been very valuable. Margrete, Kirsten and Mari: I am eternally grateful for your useful comments on parts of my final draft on a very short notice. Gratitude also goes to the Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and the POLICYMIX project, where David Barton and Aina Johansen were particularly helpful. Last, but not least, thanks to Krister for bearing through with me during this last hectic year, and providing me with wonderful meals, advices and comforting hugs all along. Also, thank you so much for proofreading my final draft. I would like to dedicate this thesis to my dear and inspiring auntie, Hanne, who has and will always be a very special support for me. Takk! Marte Guttulsrød Oslo, July 2013 v Maps of Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell Map 1: Map of Norway with Trillemarka-Rollagsfjell