| dc.description.abstract | The widespread application of multi-criteria decision-making methods to environmental
and natural resource management indicates that their use is well aligned to advance the
multiple objective and participatory nature of the forest planning process. Specifically,
the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a systematic multi-criteria decision-making
approach which uses a hierarchically structure to deconstruct a decision into an overall
goal, criteria, and alternatives. AHP has the ability to integrate individual preferences
with factual information to arrive at the “best” solution for the current decision situation.
Because of AHP’s flexible structure and strong communication and educational
components, AHP has the potential to enhance natural resource management decisions in
the planning process. By means of a literature search, this paper explores the feasibility in
terms of benefits and limitations of AHP, as well as opportunities for the application of
AHP as a decision-making support tool within Forest Service project-level planning.
However, due to the varied nature of project-level planning projects, specific
opportunities and guidelines for incorporating AHP into the Forest Service planning
process could not be clearly defined. | en_US |
