Transfer System to Adapt Timber Harvesting Operations to Local Conditions

• Main Author: Jörn Erler
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Forestry 2017-01-01
• Series: Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering
• Online Access: https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/281461

Sustainable management requires equal consideration of economic, ecological and social criteria. The science looks back on more than 50 years, in which different multi-criteria decisionmaking models have been developed and refined. They are well suited for the solution of complex tasks, but are dependent on case studies und limited to them. Due to this high complexity, it is not possible to transfer the results of such case studies into practice. It is, therefore, necessary to prepare a transfer model that gives the opportunity to the practice to translate the scientific findings into their local multi-criteria decisions. Such a transfer model should provide a fixed basic structure, with which the complexity is reliably depicted. However, it should be open for individual additions and adaptations in order to adapt to the locality. In the process of finding the action options, it should support the user to enlarge the search space as far as possible. The criteria and attributes should be largely fostered by scientific if-then rules, in order to meet the transfer task. In this context, uncertainties, risks and side effects must be pointed out. In the selection of the scales, in contrast, it is recommended to dispense with scientific objectivity in favor of simpler applicability in practice. On the basis of these demands, a model is developed for finding optimal wood harvesting methods. In phases Develop – Assess – Evaluate, the user is guided through the decision-making process. Initially, he is commissioned to develop concrete action options for his individual task and to predict their results. After that, he has to check six criteria with attributes and assess the options. Several methodological concepts are offered for the final evaluation. The model has proven its worth in various teaching environments. Therefore, it is recommended to develop it into an online tool for a wider target group as a continuing education module.