Demonstrates a GIS–AHP decision support system that optimizes harvesting in chestnut coppice stands, indicating widespread agreement among stakeholders.
Key Points
The aim is to validate a GIS-based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for selecting harvesting and wood systems in chestnut coppices.
Used GIS and AHP to evaluate three extraction systems and three wood systems across 162 Forest Management Units.
Gathered input from four stakeholder categories: researchers, technicians, forest owners, and workers.
Analyzed suitability using stakeholder-derived weights.
Statistically significant differences in suitability ratings among stakeholder groups were found.
The cable skidder was preferred in 94%–100% of the area based on stakeholder group.
Whole-Tree Harvesting was selected over 96.1% of analyzed areas with 95.1% agreement among units.