SWOT strategies for forestry logistics in six European regions

Abstract The paper presents findings from a comparative analysis of three major topical fields of interest notably supply chain management, technological progress and mass flux analysis in six European forest regions of the IN2WOOD project (FP7 RoK 2010-2012). The study identifies matching strengths and weaknesses and summarizes cross-regional priorities. Based on this information, a set of the region’s strategies was compiled in view of the general objective to optimise logistics. Four different strategy types were proposed: SO-strategy (internal strengths were used to realise external opportunities, WO-strategy (reducing internal weakness to realise external opportunities), ST-strategy (internal strengths were used to minimise external threats) and WT-strategy (reducing the internal weaknesses to avoid external threats). Main common strategies for forestry logistics are: developing clear concepts for the implementation of ICT applications for difficult terrain like GPS-maps in mountainous regions, increasing the possibility of co-operations between the actors involved and developing a detailed mass flux analyses as a basis for SCM concepts.