A research- and end-use strategy for new generations of decision-support systems in forest management planning

Norway has long traditions in development of software systems that can be applied for decision-support in forest management planning. This includes applications for large-scale and long-term forest planning as well as applications for more detailed prescr iptions of silvicultural treatments at the stand level. Development, use and management of such systems is a complex task and require a multi-disciplinary approach with comprehensive skills in many different subject areas. The management of a decision-su pport system may be divided into three main aspects; a data acquisition strategy, a model selection strategy and a decision structure strategy. An extensive development has taken place over the past few years related to computer technology. This developme nt is influencing the possibilities of the software that can be applied, both with respect to user-friendliness and to the amount of data that can be handled. Today INA has a comprehensive expertise with respect to decision-support systems. There are als o several other stakeholders that use the systems in their daily work. We still feel, however, that we have an unused potential when it comes the practical applications in Norway. With new technology, and new challenges related to the multifunctional aspe cts of forest management, it is of vital importance, for the research communities as well as for the end-users, to map the present situation and to settle a strategy for future developments and applications of decision-support systems in Norway. The prop osed project will be finalized with a report describing the "present state of art" as well as a future strategy for research and end-use. The main part of the work will be carried out as literature studies. The work will be done in co-operation with Norwe gian partners and experts on decision-support systems through a reference group. An open workshop, with invited lectures from international and Norwegian experts on decision-support systems will be arranged.