Mapping the optimal forest road network based on the multicriteria evaluation technique: the case study of Mediterranean Island of Thassos in Greece

Stergios Tampekis,Stavros Sakellariou,Olga Christopoulou,Athanassios Sfougaris,Dirk Jaeger,Fani Samara

doi:10.1007/s10661-015-4876-9

Stergios Tampekis, Stavros Sakellariou + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4876-9

Copy DOI

Abstract

The sustainable management of forest resources can only be achieved through a well-organized road network designed with the optimal spatial planning and the minimum environmental impacts. This paper describes the spatial layout mapping for the optimal forest road network and the environmental impacts evaluation that are caused to the natural environment based on the multicriteria evaluation (MCE) technique at the Mediterranean island of Thassos in Greece. Data analysis and its presentation are achieved through a spatial decision support system using the MCE method with the contribution of geographic information systems (GIS). With the use of the MCE technique, we evaluated the human impact intensity to the forest ecosystem as well as the ecosystem’s absorption from the impacts that are caused from the forest roads’ construction. For the human impact intensity evaluation, the criteria that were used are as follows: the forest’s protection percentage, the forest road density, the applied skidding means (with either the use of tractors or the cable logging systems in timber skidding), the timber skidding direction, the visitors’ number and truck load, the distance between forest roads and streams, the distance between forest roads and the forest boundaries, and the probability that the forest roads are located on sights with unstable soils. In addition, for the ecosystem’s absorption evaluation, we used forestry, topographical, and social criteria. The recommended MCE technique which is described in this study provides a powerful, useful, and easy-to-use implement in order to combine the sustainable utilization of natural resources and the environmental protection in Mediterranean ecosystems.

Highlights

IntroductionAn expert-based approach to the forest road network planning can be achieved by combining the spatial multicriteria evaluation and the Delphi method
Because of the environmental impacts, forest road network planning needs to address from ecological aspects
The recommended multicriteria evaluation (MCE) technique which is described in this study provides a powerful, useful, and easy-to-use implement in order to combine the sustainable utilization of natural resources and the environmental protection in Mediterranean ecosystems

Summary

Introduction

An expert-based approach to the forest road network planning can be achieved by combining the spatial multicriteria evaluation and the Delphi method This methodology is useful in forest road planning because it takes under consideration environmental and cost parameters (Hayati et al 2012). In the last 15 years, much work has been directed toward integrating GIS and MCE methods in the context of spatial decision support systems for planning, retail and service locations, land-based project selection, and environmental management (Eastman et al 1993; Gomes and Lins 2002; Jankowski 1995; Joerin et al 2001; Laaribi et al 1996; Malczewski 1999; Marinoni 2005; Pereira and Duckstein 1993). In order to evaluate the spatial layout for the optimal forest road network and the environmental impacts that are caused to the natural environment, the intensity and the absorption criteria method could be used (Doukas 2004; Gianoulas 2001; Heinimann 1994)

Materials and methods

Results and discussion

Conclusions