Developing and using composite indices to describe broadscale trends in forest management

This paper describes how to develop a composite index and how to use it to identify broadscale trends in sustainable forest management. The core issue is developing a composite measure from selected indicators of ecosystem conditions that captures the essence of the public's notions about environmental values and can be developed from existing data or by using existing data to develop proxies for key variables (indicators). This process reveals insights about the compatible nature of changes in both the composite measure and measures of socioeconomic progress. These insights suggest that there are opportunities for science to provide concise information that better informs policy or management decisions.