Applying a Multi-Criteria Project Portfolio Tool in Selecting Energy Peat Production Areas

Mikko Kurttila,Jouni Pykäläinen,Oili Tarvainen,Sakari Sarkkola,Artti Juutinen,Jouni Karhu,Arto Haara,Paavo Ojanen,Anne Tolvanen,Miia Saarimaa

doi:10.3390/su12051705

Abstract

This study demonstrates the characteristics of the new generic project portfolio selection tool YODA (“Your Own Decision Aid”). YODA does not include a mathematical aggregation model. Instead, the decision maker’s preferences are defined by the interactive articulation of acceptance thresholds of project-level decision criteria. Transparency and ease of adopting the method in participatory planning are sought using the method’s simple preference input. The characteristics of the YODA tool are introduced by presenting how it has been applied in participatory land use planning in northern Finland in selecting a combination of peat production sites to attain the goals defined at municipal level. In this process, each stakeholder first constructed a project portfolio that best met his or her preferences. In doing this, acceptance thresholds for project-level decision criteria were defined. In total, eight decision criteria were related to economic value, biodiversity, social impacts, and ecosystem services. Subsequently, the portfolios of different stakeholders were combined in line with the principles of robust portfolio modelling. Core projects were accepted by all stakeholders, while exterior projects were not accepted, and borderline projects by some of the stakeholders. Although the land use planning situation at hand was highly sensitive, because it was related to various aspects of sustainability, the use of YODA provided useful results. The first meeting with stakeholders identified 52 out of 99 sites that none of the stakeholders would use for energy peat production, due to their characteristics, whereas, in the second meeting, a smaller stakeholder group found 18 core projects and 26 borderline projects which could be potential areas for energy peat production. We conclude that YODA—as a generic project portfolio tool—can be used in various planning situations.

Highlights

Participatory land use planning is often a sensitive and complex process where multiple and often controversial objectives have to be taken into account [1]
It was agreed that at the end of the planning process, there should be at least 2000 hectares of potential peat production sites identified for the master plan
The reason for the use of larger portfolio level goal was that the use of the selected areas for energy peat production may not be possible in practice, due to various reasons

Summary

Introduction

Participatory land use planning is often a sensitive and complex process where multiple and often controversial objectives have to be taken into account [1]. Achieving full consensus is a true challenge, the creation of feasible land use alternatives, their impact and trade-off analyses and comparisons may increase the possibilities of finding acceptable solutions and avoiding and/or solving conflicts [2,3,4]. As the awareness of immaterial benefits from nature is increasing, the emerging challenge is to develop new participatory methods that visualise the impacts of land-use alternatives and their trade-offs on various ecosystem services in an understandable way. Energy peat production is an intensive way to use peatlands, and it is, coordinated at the national and regional level planning and regulated through environmental permits. The opinions towards peat production are highly controversial, due to its positive impacts on the local economy and employment, but negative impacts on the environment and recreation [2]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion