Compromise Programming in Forest Management

Abstract

Multi-objective decision-making (MODM) is an appropriate approach for evaluating a forest management scenario involving multiple interests. Today's land managers must accommodate commercial as well as non-commercial objectives that may be expressed quantitatively and/or qualitatively, and respond to social, political, economic and cultural changes. The spatial and temporal characteristics of a forest ecosystem and the huge number of variables involved require the management of such a system in a spatiotemporal MODM framework. The particular MODM technique used in this paper is Compromise Programming. This technique is used to determine the most satisfactory management option. Compromise Programming uses a common management response indicator to solve a forest ecosystem management scenario in a fair and equitable manner.