A fuzzy set approach to the problem of sustainability

Evaluating sustainability in forest management requires decision makers to consider multiple, conflicting definitions in an environment of risk, uncer tainty, and incomplete or non-quantitative information Zadeh's fuzzy set th eory provides a rigorous, flexible approach to the problem of defining and evaluating sustainability and comparing alternative scenarios. We discuss h ow fuzzy set concepts can be used to better manage for goals such as sustai nability, equity, and ecosystem health. We then show how a simple tabular t echnique using fuzzy sets can be used to compare management alternatives, i ncorporate multiple objectives, and identify knowledge gaps and areas of di sagreement. The simplicity and flexibility of this technique provides neede d support for mon explicit. objective decisions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.