An Approach Using Goal Programming for the Management of Agroforestry Systems with Multiple Stakeholders

Abstract

Public concern about the environment has rapidly growing regarding participatory decision-making. However, the large number of stakeholders involved include diverse opinions, which are often in conflict, regarding different decision criteria. To solve this problem, it’s proposed using an innovative mathematical participatory decision model based on goal programming that allows simulating situations that value the majority or the minority consensus of the stakeholders involved. The model was applied to a Forest Intervention Zone (ZIF) located within the Algarve region, southern Portugal. Three key criteria for the decision were considered: economic result, biodiversity and fire risk. The results showed that the proposed methodology allows simulating situations that value consensus of the majority or the minority, as well as the trade off and intermediate situations between the two extremes.