Abstract
The importance of environmental and economical aspects in sustainable forest management (SFM), demands a
continuing need for the application of efficient methods in this field. In this paper, we applied analytic network
process (ANP) with benefits, opportunities, costs, and risks (BOCR) to evaluate four existing wood extraction
methods (rubber-tired skidder, tracked skidder, cable logging and animal skidding) and select the best one
based on SFM strategies in the Caspian (Hyrcanian) Forest, in northern Iran. The required data were obtained
either fromthe previous studies or through pairwise comparisons conducted by a panel of forest engineering experts.
Based on the BOCR subnetworks and their corresponding criteria, four alternatives were synthesized. ANP
analysis indicated that the benefits and riskswere more important in terms of decision-making, compared to the
opportunities and costs. Finally, the alternative of rubber-tired skidderwas selected as themost suitablemethod
for meeting SFM strategies. The decision framework proposed in this study offers a means for the
reorganizing and planning of timber harvesting operations as an integral step toward SFM. By making
minor adjustments for local conditions, this decision framework can be adapted for many other regions and countries.