Multi-criteria Optimization Of Forest Management: A Simulation-based Study

In recent years, with the increase of the forest in France, more and more peoplerealize that the importance of the forest multifunction and start to concentrate onthis field. However, integrating the multifunctional role of forests in forestrypractices constitutes a great challenge. Usually, we should consider the trade-offamong the forest functions. This paper proposes a framework to study dynamicalrelationships between two important functions in forests: timber production andbiodiversity conservation. Based on modeling and simulation (M&S) theory and theindividual based forest model, this paper utilizes the VLE (simulation software) tofinish modeling and simulation process. After attaining the output files, the methodto generate the relevant response surface with Pareto border is given. Meanwhile,both the criteria space and the parameter space are decided through analyzing theindividual model. This paper divides the multi-criteria on two functions: one is inrelation with the timber production as well as the other links with the biodiversityconservation. Estimating the two kinds of performance criteria on the responsesurface and processing the managements with the tool proposed make us knowwhich management is relevant better than others. Especially in reality when thePareto border can‘t be performed by forest managers, the tool can give severalminor better advices. Utilizing this tool can calculate the distance between theminor better solutions and Pareto border in order to find the appropriate alternativemanagements. Thus both the dominated management and the non-dominatedmanagement should be taken account into displaying in the same response surface,both of them are important. Thanks to our analysis, we can provide some advices tothe forest managers to support them multi-criteria decision making.