Multi criteria analysis based on criteria and indicators for decision support at forest management unit level

In this study, indicators for SFM are applied in a pressure-state-response (PSR) framework at forest management level. This framework links pressures on the environment caused by hu-man activities with changes of environmental state (condition) parameters (e.g., volume, natu-ral regeneration, net present value). Forest management also responds to these changes by instituting environmental and economic measures and to reduce pressures and restore natural resources. The framework is adapted to the forest management unit level using a recently de-veloped set of SFM indicators based on Pan-European Operational Level Guidelines for Sus-tainable Forest Management. Several multi criteria decision making methods (AHP, ANP, PROMETHEE I / II, ELECTRE III / IV, SMART) are utilized to evaluate the adapted PSR framework. We demonstrate a case study of the indicator-based framework. Different management strategies are evaluated with regard to find an optimal solutions for sustainable forest management at Forest Management Level. Sensitivity analysis is done to gain more insight which implications for responses to maintain or enhance forest resources can be found in utilizing the framework. The combined perspective gives more detailed information on the human influences and their impacts on forest ecosystems and goes beyond the limitations of flat-dimensioned indicator sets.