From images to symbolic and practical realities : Visual representations of the French and Swedish forest

Sammanfattning

This study investigates visual representations of forests and how these depictions relate to policies and management decisions. It examines forests as symbolic elements in visual culture and material spaces governed by policies. Through a cross-country analysis, the research framework interprets the socio-ecological realities of forests by analysing photographs published in the annual reports of the Swedish Forest Agency and France’s National Forestry Office. These images are contextualised alongside historical and contemporary visuals to replace them in a larger visual culture that codifies forest representation. The study underscores how image-making practices exist within multiscale contexts, showcasing the power of visual data to depict systemic and specific aspects of forests. Additionally, these images reflect broader national and international discourses surrounding sustainability, often revealing contradictory objectives related to forest management. The study situates image analysis within the social sciences as a relevant method to trace spatial and temporal dimensions of forest landscapes. Focusing on visual materials identifies how landscapes are curated and circulated to tell narratives of use, conservation, and transformation while revealing contentious areas and omissions. Ultimately, the two agencies curate landscapes through self-identification while expressing views, values, and goals about these socio-ecosystems.