Strategic decision model for the evaluation of timber harvesting systems

摘要

Selecting a suitable timber harvesting system can generate conflicts especially when multiple objectives have to be pursued. One of the possibilities to minimize this problem is to adopt a multi-criteria methodology that will eventually enable decision makers to select the system that best fulfils the objectives to be achieved. In the present study a strategic decision model was used in order to evaluate and classify timber harvesting systems for the forests of Northeastern Greece. The decision modelwas considered necessary as it is particularly difficult to choose among the different harvesting systems available the one that both fulfils the objectives of a given Forest Service and takes into consideration local conditions and possible social limitations. Within the frame of this model, five systems were selected through literature review in terms of suitability for the afore-mentioned forests. The systems were subsequendy evaluated against certain assessment criteria, which fell into three group