Abstract
Integrating Spatial and Decision Analyses to Improve Forest Management Track: Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management Author(s): Tika Adhikari, Richard Farnsworth, Shorna Broussard The primary purpose of the Spatial Analysis Project (SAP), a U.S. Forest Service initiative, is to assist a state in identifying "highly valued forestlands" that complement its economic, ecologic, and social objectives. The existing SAP model consists of 12 spatial data layers that capture a broad range of potential resource benefits and threats to forestlands. In this paper, we extended the basic model two ways. First, we used decision analysis to formalize the structure of the SAP model. Second, we added a productivity variable by using productivity indices reported in county soil surveys to account partially for the use of forestlands for timber production. We used ModelBuilder to run both models. The addition of a productivity variable significantly changes the distribution of "highly valued forestlands" compared to the analysis from the basic 12-variable model. These results suggest that full model specification is critically important to maintain consistency with a state's objectives. Tika Adhikari Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources 195 Marsteller Street Forestry Building Room No 302 West Lafayette , IN 47907 US Phone: 765-494-0825 E-mail: tadhikar@purdue.edu Richard Farnsworth Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources 195 Marsteller Street Forestry Building Room No 109 West Lafayette , IN 47907 US Phone: 765-496-3245 Fax: 765-496-1344 E-mail: rlfarnsw@purdue.edu Shorna Broussard Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources 195 Marsteller Street Forestry Building Room No 201 West Lafayette , IN 47907 US Phone: 765-494-3603 Fax: 765-496-2426 E-mail: broussar@purdue.edu |
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