Multiple-use forest planning techniques

Because of the complexity of multiple use forest management problems, it is difficult to quantify the consequences of management activities and to identify good management plans without the use of mathematical models. On the other hand, such models usually cannot provide sufficiently precise descriptions of the real problem, and thus one should not rely entirely on the solutions of the models to find the best management plan. This 'paradox' has plagued multiple-use forest planning and management. It has also motivated the continual suggestion of new planning techniques in the forestry literature. This paper provides an overview of various multiple-use forest planning techniques that have been proposed, emphasising their strengths and limitations in practical applications. It describes three planning procedures and discusses how alternative techniques can be applied at different stages of the planning process to overcome difficulties associated with each technique