Title: Decision making under the scope of forest policy: sustainable agroforestry systems in less favoured areas

Authors: Stefanos Tsiaras; Jason Papathanasiou

Addresses: Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541-24 Thessaloniki, Greece ' Department of Business Administration, University of Macedonia, Egnatia 156, 540-06 Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract: The aim of the paper is to apply multiple criteria decision analysis in order to propose suitable agroforestry systems as a sustainable choice for the forestation of abandoned agricultural land in a mountainous, less favoured area. The promotion of regional development through the increase of wooded land is a strategic target of forest policy in the European Union. MCDA was used for the selection of the most suitable agroforestry system, taking into consideration all three pillars of sustainability: environment, society and economy. Fourteen agroforestry systems well adapted in the study area were analysed with the PROMETHEE method under six criteria: cost, expected revenue, working hours, waiting period for the first yield, water demands and fertilisers. According to the results, the most suitable agroforestry system for the study area is the combination of pomegranate with medick. The findings could be useful in forest policy planning, contributing to the forestation of less favoured areas in Greece.

Keywords: multiple criteria decision analysis; policy making; agroforestry; regional development; sustainability; PROMETHEE.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSAMI.2018.099232

International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Management and Informatics, 2018 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.205 - 218

Received: 14 Oct 2018
Accepted: 29 Dec 2018
Published online: 23 Apr 2019 *

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