IN PARTICIPATORY PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
OF THE
by
Graham L. Cox
A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate
Faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Major Subject: Ecological Economics
ABSTRACT
Multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) represents an emerging
decision aid tool in the field of ecological economics. This thesis explores
the application of MCDA to participatory planning for sustainable management
of the State Forest of New York. Applying the Preference
Ranking Organization METHod
of Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) procedure,
this thesis analyses the planning process for two reforestation and multiple
use (RMU)
The methodology included the following elements.
First, goals and alternative forest management options were identified, based
on the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) draft Master
Plan for State Forests. Second, sustainable forestry criteria and indicators
(C&I) were adapted from the Montreal Process, an international agreement
between twelve nations containing ninety percent of the world’s temperate
and boreal forests. Third, alternative management scenarios were developed
from selected stakeholders representing interests in the UMP process. Results
include partial and complete ranking of management alternatives, Graphical
Analysis for Interactive Assistance (GAIA) planes for conflict resolution,
and full sensitivity analysis of scenario profiles, criteria and stakeholder
weights, and stability intervals of rankings.
Results from one forest unit demonstrate that active
timber management can support the dual goals of conservation and passive recreation.
This is preferred over the current UMP. In the second forest unit, where
planning had just begun, MCDA helped clarify stakeholder positions. The resulting
profiles and preference rankings demonstrate likely management conflicts
between passive and active recreational demands and protection of biodiversity.
In both cases, the Montreal Process C&I need significant refinement to
be relevant to broader planning goals, including recreation.
The PROMETHEE procedure,
as applied through the Decision Lab 2000 software, makes explicit the issues,
alternatives, and arguments that are often overlooked. In
combination with Geographical Information Systems (GIS), PROMETHEE has great
potential as an internal ‘expert’ planning tool as part of broader participatory
planning processes. For future statewide use, the
potential exists to couple MCDA, GIS, and participatory planning into current
forest certification processes, but not without building a substantial forest
database and defining more inclusive stakeholder participation processes.