ISSN : 1229-3857(Print)
ISSN : 2288-131X(Online)
ISSN : 2288-131X(Online)
Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology Vol.39 No.5 pp.497-507
DOI : https://doi.org/10.13047/KJEE.2025.39.5.497
DOI : https://doi.org/10.13047/KJEE.2025.39.5.497
Sustaining European Beech Forests: Multi-criteria Evaluation of Management Regimes in the Eifel Region Using Long-Term Simulation
Abstract
This study compared and evaluated the long-term sustainability of three forest management regimes - conventional shelterwood cutting (Bk), near-natural selective cutting (Bn), and unmanaged reserves (Bt) - in European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests located in the Eifel region of Germany through a 500-year simulation. Three key sustainability evaluation criteria were assessed: ecological stability (based on volume variability), economic efficiency (based on annual timber yield), and model predictability (based on GAM model fit). Using a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework, each management regime was compared through a weighted composite index. Results showed that Bn management achieved the highest overall performance, while maintaining a balance between ecological resilience and appropriate productivity. On the other hand, Bt forests showed high ecological stability but low economic feasibility, and Bk forests showed high productivity and predictability but the lowest ecological stability. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that, although rankings may vary depending on the weight factor of evaluation criteria, the Bn showed relatively consistent performance under various scenarios. This study provides a quantitative basis for developing sustainable forest management policies and suggests the importance of a balanced management strategy that considers ecological and economic values and long-term predictability.






