MultiOptForest: An interactive multi-objective optimization tool for forest planning and scenario analysis

Open Research Europe, vol. 3, pp. 103

Abstract

MultiOptForest is an open-source software designed to simplify building and solving multi-objective optimization problems for forest planning. It aims to find the optimal portfolio of management regimes that balance the objectives regarding multiple forest ecosystem services and biodiversity. The software flexibly imports data, allowing for the use of a variety of forest simulator outputs. The user provides preference information through a user-friendly graphical interface, where the range of possible values for each objective is provided. MultiOptForest solves the optimization problem producing a set of Pareto optimal solutions, i.e., solutions where none of the objectives can be improved without compromising others. MultiOptForest is versatile enough to design a Pareto optimal forest plan for a small holding to assess management and the trade-off between multiple policy objectives impacting the future development of forests across regions and countries.

Authors 11

1. Kyle Eyvindson

   Natural Resources Institute Finland · Norwegian University of Life Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet, Ås, NO-1432, Norway

   Natural Resource Institute Finland (LUKE), Laatokartanonkaari 9, Helsinki, 00790, Finland

2. Daniel Burgas

   University of Jyväskylä

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Jyvaskylan yliopisto, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland

   School of Resource Wisdom, Jyvaskylan yliopisto, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland

3. Clara Antón‐Fernández

   Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Forest and Forest Resources, Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research, Ås, 1433, Norway

4. Jussi Hakanen
   Affiliation as printed

   Silo Ai, Fredrikinkatu 57 C, Helsinki, 00180, Finland

5. Michael Emmerich Aachen Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science, Universiteit Leiden, Leiden, South Holland, 2333CA, The Netherlands

   Silo Ai, Fredrikinkatu 57 C, Helsinki, 00180, Finland

6. Julian Klein

   Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences · Swedish Species Information Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Swedish Species Information Centre, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, P.O. 7007, Uppsala, 75007, Sweden

7. Mikko Mönkkönen

   University of Jyväskylä

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Jyvaskylan yliopisto, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland

   School of Resource Wisdom, Jyvaskylan yliopisto, P.O. Box 35, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland

8. Tord Snäll

   Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences · Swedish Species Information Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Swedish Species Information Centre, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, P.O. 7007, Uppsala, 75007, Sweden

9. Astor Toraño Caicoya

   Technical University of Munich

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair of Growth and Yield Science, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universitat Munchen, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 8354 Freising, Germany

10. Marta Vergarechea

    Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Division of Forest and Forest Resources, Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research, Ås, 1433, Norway

11. Clemens Blattert

    Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Forest Resources and Management, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland