Paper short abstract:

This paper argues that bioeconomy challenges previous conceptualizations about how states, citizens and corporations affect and influence justice and decision making over utilization of the natural resources. Therefore bioeconomy impacts on local democracy instead of remaining as development intervention.

Paper long abstract:

The bioeconomy is seen as a new economic and social order that will challenge most of the current practices and structures. Currently, there is a global rush to support bioeconomy growth and innovations, although the environmental sustainability and social justice of bioeconomy growth can be questioned. Based on the current research in Finland, Tanzania, Laos, Nepal and Mexico, I argue that social sustainability of the bioeconomy can be examined via citizens' participation in natural resources governance. In this paper, I would like to discuss the empirical and conceptual understanding of responsive natural resources governance and how this could foster justice in bioeconomy. The all case studies present forest-based bioeconomy interventions. The paper exhibit forest governance reform efforts, both as attempts to respond to the need for citizens' participation in forest governance. The forest-based bioeconomy challenges previous conceptualizations about how states, citizens and corporations affect and influence justice and decision making over utilization of the forest. The forest based bioeconomy therefore also impact on local democracy and citizenship instead of remaining as development incentives for bioeconomy and forest governance reform. However, it can be also argued that bioeconomy interventions have the potential to increase participation of local citizens in forest management, but a top-down approach of bioeconomy is criticized. However, and more importantly, the remaining question is how forest-based bioeconomy interventions could be created to include public discussion and the voice of vulnerable groups to defend and strengthen social justice in bioeconomy.