Integrated use of GIS, remote sensing and multi-criteria decision analysis to assess ecological land suitability in multi-functional forestry

• Published in: Journal of forestry research Vol. 27; no. 5; pp. 1127 - 1135
• Main Authors: Ahmadi Sani, Naser, Babaie Kafaky, Sasan, Pukkala, Timo, Mataji, Asadollah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.10.2016; Springer; Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mahabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mahabad, Iran%Department of Forestry, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran%University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
• Subjects: Analysis; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Decision-making; Forestry; Forests and forestry; Geographic information systems; GIS; Land use; Life Sciences; Original Paper; Remote sensing; Sustainable development; 决策分析; 土地适宜性评价; 多准则; 多功能林业; 生态用地; 综合利用; 遥感; Ecological suitability; Land allocation; Analytic hierarchy process; Spatial analysis; Zagros forests; Decision analysis; Land-use planning
• ISSN: 1007-662X; 1993-0607
• DOI: 10.1007/s11676-016-0242-1

The Zagros forests are a treasure of valuable oak forests, but they have been severely degraded from long-term misuse. Geographic information systems （GIS） and multi-criteria decision analysis （MCDA） have been increasingly used to improve the management of vulnerable ecosystems to prevent further degradation and increase the sustainability of land use. This study presents a methodology to assess land suitability using remote sensing （RS） to obtain wall-to-wall data for the calculations, GIS to analyze the data, and MCDA to rank alternative land uses. The criteria and subcriteria affecting the suitability of land for different uses were identified and weighted using an analytic hierarchy process. Variables used as subcriteria were assessed using satellite data and other sources of information such as existing maps and field surveys. Numerical values for the subcriteria were classified, and each class was given a priority rating according to expert judgments. Based on the ratings and weights of the subcriteria, a priority map was created for each land use using the weighted linear combination method. The priority maps for different land uses were overlaid to obtain a preliminary land use map, which often indicated several simultaneous land uses for the same location. The preliminary map was further edited by removing unrealistic, mutually exclusive land-use combinations. The study tested and demonstrated the potential of integrating RS, G1S and MCDA techniques for solving complicated land allocation problems in forested regions using a scientifically sound and practical approach for efficient and sustainable allocation of forestland for different uses.