Book Description

We developed a decision-support framework that integrates scenario analysis and multi-criteria decision analysis and used it to analyze forest renewal in the study area of the Quesnel Timber Supply Area. Two consensus-based scenarios were constructed to represent the target future conditions: strong forest sector and forest resilience/economic diversification. Renewal strategies were constructed using multi-criteria decision analysis and sets of criteria specific to each scenario. Impacts of the renewal strategies are measured in terms of several timber and non-timber indicators. The key economic and timber-related impacts are linked to merchantable volume. Ecological impacts are assessed by analyzing wildlife communities associated with the broad habitat categories. None of the strategies generated for the scenarios was acceptable in terms of all criteria and outcomes. Further revisions of the scenarios and criteria, with the involvement of local stakeholders, is therefore recommended for decision-making. The integrated framework developed for this study is general and allows for other community and forest management concerns to be incorporated. The framework demonstrates how the stakeholders' goals regarding their community's future are formulated and how the conflicts between multiple criteria may be addressed. Impacts of the renewal strategies are measured in terms of several timber and non-timber indicators. The key economic and timber-related impacts are linked to merchantable volume. Ecological impacts are assessed by analyzing wildlife communities associated with the broad habitat categories. None of the strategies generated for the scenarios was acceptable in terms of all criteria and outcomes. Further revisions of the scenarios and criteria, with the involvement of local stakeholders, is therefore recommended for decision-making. The integrated framework developed for this study is general and allows for other community and forest management concerns to be incorporated. The framework demonstrates how the stakeholders' goals regarding their community's future are formulated and how the conflicts between multiple criteria may be addressed.