Abstract
As a consequence of past decades' extensive afforestation in Norway, mature forest volumes are increasing. National forestry politics aim call for sustainable and efficient resource usage and for increased regional processing. Regional policies seek to provide good conditions for such industries to be competitive and to improve regional value creation. We discuss how methods from regional macro-economics, operations research and social sciences may complement each other to support decision makers in this process. Operations research is concerned with finding an optimally designed wood value chain and an aggregated planning of its operations, taking a holistic perspective on a strategic-tactical level. Based on statistics and survey data, input-output analysis can estimate the sector's value creation and impact on society beyond the immediate value chain activities. Combining these approaches in a common mathematical optimization model, a balance is struck between industry / business and political interests. This helps to assess effects of political measures and business conditions on the regional economy and on industry activities. Network analysis identifies relations between important entities within and outside the wood value chain, determining drivers and barriers for adopting good solutions.