Envisioning “new forests” on abandoned farmland in Russia: A discourse analysis of a controversy

Trees have been growing on millions of hectares of abandoned farmland in Russia for decades but have only recently become an issue of political and public controversy. This controversy was sparked by a campaign promoting the legalisation and management of these hitherto informal forests and promising multiple socio-economic and ecological benefits by developing what we call “new forests”. Emphasising dormant potential and claiming win-win solutions meant a fundamental discursive shift away from abandoned farmland’s negative framing. We conducted a political discourse analysis of media coverage, campaigns, and legislation around “new forests” from 2013 through 2022. Our approach draws on an analysis of practical argumentation and a Science and Technology Studies (STS)-inspired issue-oriented perspective. We found that the controversy on the future use of this land was one of conflicting visions rather than actual land-use conflicts. Three camps developed, advocating private new forests, state-controlled forestry, and agricultural recultivation. We discuss how the new forest controversy reflects broader rationalities, and tensions between agriculture, forestry, carbon sequestration, and forest conservation that remain relevant even though circumstances for policies of farmland reuse in Russia have changed fundamentally since 2022. • Russia holds largest area of abandoned farmland worldwide; its future use is significant globally. • The future use of abandoned farmland was turned into a political issue in Russia. • Issue articulation included a discursive shift from abandonment to growth and potential. • Discourse analysis reveals a controversy between three discursive camps. • The controversy was one of conflicting visions rather than land use conflicts.