Lessons Learned from the Implementation of VDTT and EMDS for the Management Planning of the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest (WA, USA)

The development and use of decision support systems for forest management (FMDSS) have considerably increased worldwide in the last decades in accordance with the recognition of the multifunctional role of forests. The Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool (VDDT) and Ecosystem Management Decision Support (EMDS) system are used for forest planning purposes in the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States Forest Service (USFS). Lessons learned have been explored using case study methods. Important working knowledge derived from success or failure according to the users’ perspective concern data availability for modeling, expertise needed to run the tool, the models’ level of resolution, and communication between the modelers and the team involved in forest planning. Lessons learned coming from developers highlight the success of the DSS evaluating the models’ characteristics, the tool's innovation and the integration of the best available science into the models.