Abstract
Climate and social changes place strong demands on forest managers. Forest managers need powerful approaches and tools, which could help them to be able to react to the rapidly changing conditions. However, the complexity of quantifying forest ecosystems services as well as the complexity of current decision theories, technologies and operation research methods, complicate the creation of one general tool. The continuous research and development in this area is an indispensable part of the success of adaptive management as well as the sharing of knowledge and information between research teams around the world. The Community of Practice of Forest Management Decision Support Systems provides a platform for broad discussion among scientists, researchers as well as forest professionals. This special issue provides papers which resulted from a conference session of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations’ (IUFRO) 125th Anniversary Congress in Freiburg, Germany in 2017. The joint sessions and other meetings (and resulting publications) are appropriate opportunities for knowledge sharing on these important methods and systems for protecting and managing forest ecosystems in the future.
Highlights
Current human society faces potential consequences of climate change, which are negative in most cases
The ministers committed themselves to increase the work on adaptation of forests and forest management to climate change to prevent and mitigate damages caused by changing conditions at the local and regional scales in order to secure all functions of European forests, including their resilience to natural hazards and protection against human-induced threats, and maintain their productive and protective functions
Several conferences related to Decision Support Systems (DSS) in forest management (Vienna 2003, Edinburgh 2005, Lisbon 2009, Umea 2013, Salt Lake City 2014) have provided a sound basis for decision support and applications in a wider context [10,11,12]
Summary
Current human society faces potential consequences of climate change, which are negative in most cases. Decision makers are facing several challenges in making a choice about a suitable combination of forest management goals, the best management option, or possible pathways to make forests less vulnerable and highly resistant according to expected negative impacts of climate change. Rising demands from society regarding a sustainable provision of ecosystems services increases the complexity of forest decision problems as well In this context the application of decision support tools can help to improve the ability of the decision maker to make rational decisions, use resources efficiently and manage forests effectively. Congress in Freiburg in autumn 2017, a session explored how the field of DSS is currently expanding under different contexts This Special Issue provides an overview on how DSS are designed and applied for supporting adaptive forest management, and includes an overview on models, methods and techniques
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
