The eight Norwegian forest owners' association discuss the question whether they shall become cooperatives with forest owners as direct members. Recently the tax authorities agreed to the change.

At present Norwegian forest owners' associations are legally organized as financial associations. The purpose of the amendment is to strengthen cooperation between forest owners in order to better meet the challenges facing the forestry business and to increase benefits for members.

An organizational committee has drawn up a model how to implement the change in practice. The committee emphasizes the need for clearer ownership structures, distribution of responsibilities and for better adaptation of the organization to Norwegian company law.

In the course of the summer and autumn forest owners' associations will deal with the practical implementation of the change.

Furthermore, the organizational committee declares that ownership of forest industry is an objective of the association. Today it has a 21 per cent share holding of the company "Norske Skog". If forest owners want to maximize their benefits, they must participate systematically and purposefully in the whole value added chain, from forest to final consumer.