The Means and Problems of Establishing Indicators for Municipal Governments in Forest Planning

Abstract

Criteria and indicators are efficient for sustainable forest management. Examples for applying indicators to forest planning could be highly suggestive. In this study, the processes of establishment and operation of forest master plans by advanced municipalities that utilize indicators were clarified by interviews. Processes of establishing indicators are categorized and general problems are extracted. Result showed that each set of indicators exhibited a current situation and issues of locality. Indicators were established using Top-down/Bottom-up, Output/Outcome, and Requirement/Current approaches. There were issues regarding comprehensiveness, consistency, dissemination, and verification. To enhance the effect of forest planning, including local-level indicators, it is important to understand the relationships between planning and indicators and establish systems to backup motivated municipalities.