Science-policy interface in participatory reforms: Integrating forest governance principles into Romania's forestry strategy

This research provides a vivid example of the science-policy interface through a large-scale, academically mediated consultation process supporting the development of Romania's National Forest Strategy 2030. The systematic design of the public consultation was implemented between July 2020 and February 2021 by Romania's two main forestry faculties, under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests. The process engaged 226 stakeholders in a structured dialogue to formulate substantiated positions on guiding principles, strategic directions, and specific measures for national forest policy. The findings, based on two successive questionnaires, identified varying degrees of consensus on thirteen guiding principles and twenty-two strategic directions grouped in nine thematic areas of action. Broad agreement emerged on priorities such as forest landscape restoration, biodiversity conservation, transparent administration, and ecological education, while significant divergences were observed concerning the level of property rights restrictions, the instruments to ensure the continuity of forest ecosystem services, and the segregation versus integration of biodiversity in forest management. The science-based consultation process demonstrates that a transparent and rigorously structured dialogue fosters constructive exchange even in polarized stakeholders' environments and low-trust institutional settings. The study highlights the potential for harmonizing socio-economic views and ecological approaches on forest management. The findings are discussed in the context of alignment and divergence with the EU Forest Strategy 2030, and recommendations are provided for enhancing participatory governance and evidence-based policy making in forestry. • Science-policy interface strengthens consultation processes for policy development. • Transparent, rigorously structured dialogue fosters exchange in polarized environments. • Consensus on legal coherence, ecosystem resilience, economic viability, science-based policy, and transparent governance. • Key challenges in property rights, financing ecosystem services, biodiversity representativity, and results-based measures. • Prioritized strategic directions in forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, digitalization, and forest education.