IMPLEMENTING THE HIERARCHY-ANALYTIC PROCESS WITHIN FOREST FRUITS FROM MUREȘ COUNTY, ROMANIA

Abstract

Romanian forest ecosystems prove their true value through the complex diversity they offer. Varied relief forms, site conditions, temperate climate and the stand composition and structure elements sustain the apparition of vegetation layers and their population with diverse forest species that accentuate biodiversity. The economy from Romania’s forest area is improved by the increased potential of harvesting a limited number of wood or non-wood products in order to ensure the population’s needs and wellbeing. The activity of trading forest goods is encouraged by the maintenance of a good collaboration with international companies. The purpose of the present research is to analyse the most appreciated forest fruits from Mureș County, România. A total number of eight forest fruits were selected from the non-wood products category and were distributed in the following classes: achene (acorn, hazelnut), false fruits (rosehip), pluri-drupes (raspberry, wild strawberry), pseudo-beny (pulp cones from Juniperus L Genus.), drupes (Prunus Genus) and benyform drupes (black elder). The analytic hierarchy process was used in the evaluation of the qualitative and quantitative criteria. Based on it, eight alternatives were attributed to each analysed fruit using 19 evaluation criteria. The Expert Choice Desktop software was used in order to emphasize the performance efficiency. As such, the most valuable forest fruits from this area proved to be Rosa canina, Rubus idaeus and Fragaria vesca. In regard for the harvesting of non-wood products, managers from the forest sector must take into account analyses that can evaluate the offered economic potential, especially in particular cases.