A practical decision-analysis process for forest ecosystem management

Rauscher, H. Michael; Lloyd, F.Thomas; Loftis, David L.; Twery, Mark J.

doi:10.1016/s0168-1699(00)00108-3

Cited by 59 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…However, because of the limited number of scenarios considered, it is likely that some potentially interesting mix of CCF and even-aged forestry were overlooked. In general, a wide range of alternatives is available when dealing with forest planning problems because there will usually be a large number of stands to consider, all of which can be assigned to different treatments at different points in time (Rauscher et al 2000). Forest planning problems are therefore typically MODA-type problems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating continuous cover forestry based on the forest owner’s objectives by combining scenario analysis and multiple criteria decision analysis

Nordström¹,

Holmström²,

Öhman³

2013

Silva Fenn.

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Evaluating continuous cover forestry based on the forest owner's objectives by combining scenario analysis and multiple criteria decision analysisNordström E.-M., Holmström H., Öhman K. (2013). Evaluating continuous cover forestry based on the forest owner's objectives by combining scenario analysis and multiple criteria decision analysis. Silva Fennica vol. 47 no. 4 article id 1046. 22 p. Highlights• Scenario analysis and multiple criteria decision analysis were combined to evaluate alternative forest management strategies for Linköping municipality, Sweden.• Continuous cover forestry (CCF) promoted ecological and social objectives better than evenaged forestry but was worse for economic objectives.• Ecological and social objectives were important to the municipality and thus, in summary, CCF seemed to be a suitable strategy. AbstractForests are increasingly managed both to provide a sustainable yield of timber and for supplying a range of ecosystem services in line with the concept of sustainable forest management. Several incommensurable interests must then be considered, and it is necessary to strike a balance between different objectives. In evaluation of trade-offs to be made, both objective factors and subjective values need to be taken into account. In recent years, continuous cover forestry (CCF) has been put forward as an alternative to even-aged forestry. The aim of this study was to use scenario analysis in combination with multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to evaluate whether CCF is a suitable strategy based on the decision makers' objectives and preferences for sustainable forest management in a specific landscape. This approach was applied to a planning case on the forest estate of the Linköping municipality in southwestern Sweden. The scenario analyses provided insights into relevant quantitative factors, while the MCDA evaluation helped in clarifying the objectives of the forest management and in assessing the relative importance of various objectives. The scenario analyses showed that in this case CCF is a good management strategy in ecological and social terms but yields worse economic outcomes than conventional even-aged forestry. In the Linköping case, there was a relatively strong emphasis on ecological and social aspects and thus, in summary, CCF seemed to be the most suitable option.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating continuous cover forestry based on the forest owner’s objectives by combining scenario analysis and multiple criteria decision analysis

Nordström¹,

Holmström²,

Öhman³

2013

Silva Fenn.

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“…By comparing the differences and similarities in forest management among different choices, as demonstrated by Rauscher et al (2000), users are able to point out the advantages and disadvantages of each option of forest management. Users can particularly compare the existing forest-management options with the improved options at both the first-and second-step decision-making processes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating stand and landscape decisions for multi-purposes of forest harvesting

Shao

Wang

Dai

et al. 2005

Forest Ecology and Management

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Forests on Changbai Mountain provide important ecological and economic services to the eastern Eurasian Continent. During the past decades, many of the forests have been harvested, mainly with clearcutting methods. Since 1998, new forest policies have required that forests be harvested with selective cutting methods. This paper demonstrates how to use a decision support system, FORESTAR, to select harvesting targets at a landscape level and to determine cutting intensity and cycle at a stand level. The study site is the Baihe Forestry Bureau, a typical forestry enterprise in northeast China. Based on the considerations of costs, timber production, and landscape integrity, three options are used to select forests for harvesting. An index called Priority Order is used to sort out all the selected forest stands with the three options. A diameter transition matrix model is then used to simulate and compare outcomes of different cutting intensities and cycles. The two decision steps are integrated as an interactive decision-making loop. The final logging plans worked out with such a decision-making process facilitate the realization of spatially-and temporally-sound forest management. #

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“…Yet, the application of EM varies greatly from one region to another. We believe this is partly due to the vague theoretical foundations underpinning EM and its application to forestry, which leads to wide variation in its implementation (Rauscher et al 2000). This situation has created a growing interest in comparing the diversity of implementation strategies and their links with scientific ecological knowledge.…”

Section: Background Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest ecosystem management in North America: From theory to practice

Patry

Kneeshaw

Wyatt³

et al. 2013

The Forestry Chronicle

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Forest ecosystem management (EM) in North America has evolved from a theoretical concept to operational practice over the last two decades, but its implementation varies greatly among regions. This paper attempts to evaluate (1) if and how emulation of natural disturbances (END) is being used as a conceptual bases for implementing EM, and more particularly, what strategies are used to define the natural forest of reference, and (2) what temporal and spatial scale strategies are being considered for seven important retention elements (downed woody debris, snags, green trees, corridors, riparian buffers, large patches and old forest)? To conduct this evaluation, five guides from four geographically well-distributed regions in North America are compared. Although END is the central conceptual foundation underlying four of the five guides, a natural forest of reference is not always clearly identified and none of the guides consider future impacts due to global change. The major weakness common to all five guides is the lack of consideration of long-term forest dynamics, particularly the lack of clear strategies for retention elements at a temporal scale longer than a single rotation. Generally, the spatial scales chosen for retention elements are not well-justified ecologically and targets for each retention element are not identified at different spatial scales. We stress that strong efforts have been made to develop forest management that incorporates some elements of natural variability and which considers societal needs, but further improvements are required. We conclude by presenting some suggestions to improve the approach. For example, creating more realistic guidelines in integrating current and future forest dynamics with pre-settlement information and planning rotation lengths that are inspired by the dominant natural disturbance.Keywords: forest ecosystem management, implementation, North America, retention strategies and emulation of natural disturbances, spatiotemporal scales résumé L'aménagement écosystémique des forêts en Amérique du Nord est passé d'un concept théorique à une application opéra-tionnelle au cours des deux dernières décennies. Par contre, sa mise en oeuvre varie grandement selon les régions. Cet article tente d' évaluer d'une part (2) si l' émulation des perturbations naturelles (END) a été utilisée comme un concept de base pour la mise en oeuvre de l'aménagement écosystémique, et si oui, quelles stratégies ont été utilisées pour définir la forêt de référence et (2) quelles échelles temporelles et spatiales ont été considérées dans les stratégies concernant sept éléments de rétention (bois mort au sol, chicots, arbres vivants, corridors, bandes riveraines, larges îlots et vieilles forêts)? Pour ce faire, cinq guides en aménagement écosystémique issues de quatre régions géographiquement bien distribuées ont été comparés. Bien qu'END soit central dans quatre guides sur cinq, la forêt de référence n' est pas toujours clairement définie. De plus, aucun des guides ne considère les ...

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A practical decision-analysis process for forest ecosystem management

Cited by 59 publications

References 13 publications

Evaluating continuous cover forestry based on the forest owner’s objectives by combining scenario analysis and multiple criteria decision analysis

Evaluating continuous cover forestry based on the forest owner’s objectives by combining scenario analysis and multiple criteria decision analysis

Integrating stand and landscape decisions for multi-purposes of forest harvesting

Forest ecosystem management in North America: From theory to practice

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