Decision Support and Multi-Objective Forest Planning for Sustainable Resource Use

BACKGROUND

Forests are expected to simultaneously provide timber, carbon storage, biodiversity, and social values. Supporting these multifunctional roles requires robust decision-making frameworks capable of integrating diverse objectives, uncertainty, and stakeholder preferences. Recent advances in forest harvesting and planning increasingly rely on data-driven simulations, optimization, and decision support systems, yet challenges remain in translating these tools into practical and scalable solutions
This Thematic Issue originates from the Symposium on Systems Analysis in Forest Resources (SSAFR), held in San Sebastián (Donostia), Basque Country, Spain, 17–21 May 2026, and aims to capture emerging research on how analytical methods can improve forest-related decisions across scales, from tree-level harvesting decisions, stand-level management, to policy design.

AIM AND SCOPE

The aim of this Thematic Issue is to advance understanding of how decision-support methods, optimization approaches, and modelling frameworks can improve forest resource management under multiple, often conflicting objectives.
We particularly encourage contributions that:
• develop or apply multi-objective forest planning approaches
• integrate economic, ecological, and social objectives in decision models
• address uncertainty and risk in forest decision-making
• explore the usability of decision support systems in practice
• analyse trade-offs between ecosystem services
• connect forest operations and logistics with strategic planning
• evaluate the use of modelling tools in real-world decisions

We particularly encourage submissions from early-career researchers and graduate students. Outstanding contributions may be considered for Forests Monitor awards for student papers, supporting the visibility and recognition of emerging scholars in the field.

THEMATIC AREAS

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:
• Multi-objective optimization
• Decision support systems
• Forest operations planning and logistics optimization
• Integration of carbon, biodiversity and economic objectives
• Risk and uncertainty in both short and long-term forest planning
• Spatial and temporal optimization of forest resources
• Data-driven forest modelling and simulation
• Applications across scales: tree, stand, landscape, region and policy
• Bridging research tools and practical decision-making

TYPE OF CONTRIBUTIONS

We welcome:
• empirical case studies
• methodological and modelling contributions
• comparative analyses across regional planning or systems

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Authors are invited to submit original research articles, reviews, and case studies that align with the themes outlined in this Thematic Issue. Submissions should adhere to the Journal's guidelines and will undergo a rigorous double-blind peer-review process. The deadline for manuscript submissions is October 30, 2026. To submit papers to this Thematic Issue, click “Make a Submission” button at the Forests Monitor homepage: https://forestsmonitor.com/ or direct link HERE), and in step 1, under the Section selection in the dropdown list, select “THEMATIC ISSUE: Decision Support and Multi-Objective Forest Planning for Sustainable Resource Use”.

CONTACT TO GUEST EDITORS

Dr. Mauricio Acuña (LUKE): [email protected]
Dr. Kyle Eyvindson (UH): [email protected]

Or for technical questions regarding submissions:
Rafal Chudy: [email protected]

Please feel free to disseminate this announcement to any colleagues who might be interested.
Yours sincerely,

Mauricio Acuna and Kyle Eyvindson

The Guest Editors