**4.4 Management integration processes**

The application of HFM requires that problems be decomposed and the various elements handled at the appropriate level of the management hierarchy. However, since it is usually impossible to solve all parts of the problem simultaneously, it is necessary to use an iterative approach to planning and control. This means that, although higher levels of the hierarchy give direction to (or constrain) the lower-level management processes, the lower-level processes should provide feedback to the upper levels so that the plans and decisions at higher levels can be refined and improved. Depending upon the complexity and importance of the problem and the time involved and available, several iterations of this process might occur. In the case of the proposed SFM process for Galicia, the main steps of this iterative approach were expected to be:


Sustainable Forest Management in Galicia (Spain): Lessons Learned 227

The implementation of the proposed SFM process for Galicia would require much greater availability of reliable data and information for planning, and much better monitoring systems than existed in 2002. The following section of this paper gives a brief description of the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure envisaged at that time for the planning and

A great deal of time and effort went into the design and documentation of the information systems and data structures required to support the new SFM strategy and process. For the

**Spatial Forest Data Infrastructure (SFDI)**: The SFDI would supply basic spatial and attribute forestry data to be used by all levels of management and, eventually, the public. Based upon such concepts as Open GIS (promoted by the international Open GIS Consortium) and web-enabled designs, it would foster standardized gathering and storage of data required for planning and control of forest management, as well as for the

**Integrated Forest Management System (IFMS)**: An integrated system of management tools would be required to ensure that plans at all levels of the management hierarchy are consistent, that actions and outcomes are monitored and controlled, and that decisions are justified and documented. These would consist of planning decision support systems (including forest modeling and forecasting tools to enable sensitivity and trade-off analysis) and monitoring and control tools to ensure that plans are being followed, and that objectives

**Monitoring and Control Systems**: Although specific monitoring and control tools would be part of IFMS, others were expected to be required to implement the SFM Strategy. In particular, these would include systems to compare outcomes to criteria and indicators of sustainability, to support regional forest certification initiatives, and to enable reporting of

As can be imagined, the implementation of such a great change was not without its problems. Perhaps the greatest obstacles that had to be overcome were the lack of knowledge concerning the proposed new management processes on the part of key players, the lack of information concerning the forests and other key factors, and the great difficulty in coordinating the design, development and implementation of so many interrelated programs and actions. In the nine years following the development of the strategy

Education sessions related to SFM, forest certification and information systems for

SFDI, which provides web access to forestry spatial and attribute data to forest service

Preliminary designs for the IFM system and monitoring and control systems have been

forest management have been provided to forest service personnel;

who follows the district plans (BMPs and SMs).

control functions of the process.

are being achieved.

**5. Data and information infrastructure** 

purposes of this paper, these are summarized as:

development and evaluation of forest policies and programs.

results to the public and to national, EU and international agencies.

**6. Implementation and revisions to the strategy** 

framework, the following pieces have been put in place:

http://rimax.xunta.es/VisorRIMAX/Default.aspx

staff, is now in place;

developed;

properly designed, could also support regional forest certification for any forest owner

indicate, for example, district targets related to reforestation, wildlife habitat, timber production, production of non-timber products over a long time horizon.


properly designed, could also support regional forest certification for any forest owner who follows the district plans (BMPs and SMs).

The implementation of the proposed SFM process for Galicia would require much greater availability of reliable data and information for planning, and much better monitoring systems than existed in 2002. The following section of this paper gives a brief description of the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure envisaged at that time for the planning and control functions of the process.
