Evaluation of harvesting methods for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) using the Analytical Network Process (ANP)

Forest harvesting is a basic component of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM). Consideration of all aspects of harvesting operations in an effort to improve forest practices requires an approach that first addresses multiple criteria and incorporates a wide range of data. Second, the approach should provide a framework to evaluate both quantitative and qualitative criteria. In this study, the Analytical Network Process (ANP) is utilized to evaluate three existing harvesting methods by integrating the main components of the FAO Model Code of Harvesting Practice as an international mechanism for local management. The ANP framework helps forest managers to prioritize all alternatives and criteria with respect to each other and to develop their corresponding preferences. This study is an analysis of the environmental, economic, and social context of harvesting operations with the goal of making forest practices more sustainable and leading forest utilization to SFM. Although the criteria are calibrated for Caspian forests (northern Iran), the key principles applied here can be used or developed in other countries or regions.