Application of time-cost trade-off model in forest management projects: The case of Oak decline project

Abstract

Oak decline has been observed periodically in the different parts of the world. We conducted this study to evaluate the project control in this phenomenon. In this paper, the project control methods have proposed to be useful tools to deal with oak decline. The aim of the study is twofold: (i) define and schedule a set of activities and determine times for those activities in the Control of Forest Decline Project (CFDP) using the Project Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) method; (ii) apply the Critical Path Method (CPM) within the context on how to reduce the project time by increasing operating costs and crashing the activities. In crisis management, “golden time” is defined for doing activities and controlling the crisis, which has a greater role than other times. The analysis confirmed that the problem of forest decline is an ecological problem and its root lies in participatory management with the local community. We also found that the time crashing is not economically efficient to the CFDP except for two activities: public information and stakeholder analysis.

An Incomplete Information Static Game Evaluating Community-Based Forest Management in Zagros, Iran

“…Examples of strategic conditions for forest management in Zagros include: (i) low tree production, (ii) forest structure degradation, (iii) overgrazing [36], (iv) soil erosion, and (v) oak decline [29,37]. The solution to most of these issues is grounded on the traditional agroforestry system existing in Zagros.…”

Zoning of Areas with Susceptibility to Oak Decline in Western Iran

“…This phenomenon has been reported first time in the 2000s, especially in the forests of Ilam province, which has caused concern among foresters and authorities (Amir Ahmadi et al 2015, Attarod et al 2017, Kooh Soltani et al 2018, Alesheikh and Mehri 2019, Mozafari et al 2019. This is important because the forests of the Zagros cover 40% of the total forests of Iran, with an area of more than 5 million hectares (Ghadirian et al 2018, Goodarzi et al 2019, Zandebasiri et al 2019.…”

“…Different species of Zagros oak including Quercus brantii Lindl., Quercus infectoria and Quercus libani are the most important and extensive forest ecosystems in Iran (Hosseini et al 2017, Alesheikh and Mehri 2019, Mozafari et al 2019). In addition, they play a very important role in water supply, soil protection, ecological balance and socio-economic status of residents (Costa et al 2010, Ahmadi et al 2014, Zandebasiri et al 2019. Decline in tree species, especially oaks, is a function of various environmental parameters (Jurskis 2005, Gonzalez Alonso, Johansson 2008.…”