Multicriteria assessment of environmental construction of a forest road in Skopelos Island in Greece

Abstract

For each forest technical work, it is necessary to assess its compatibility with the environment. The concept of environmental compatibility is introduced based on the criteria of intensity of each impact on the environment and the capacity of the environment to absorb these impacts. Most of the Greek forests is crossed by C category forest roads, most of which, due to the needs of modern society and the multiple goals of forestry, need to be improved to make them more accessible to people and vehicles. In this context, the paper sets out the criteria and the parameters affecting a forest road and identifies the weight of each criterion of ecosystem intensity and absorption. The aim of this paper is to investigate and evaluate the environmental impacts of the construction of a C category forest road, of total length of 2,750 m, in the area "Stravoxylo -Palio Klima", in Skopelos island, prefecture of Magnesia, Central Greece. In summary, the investigation concluded that this forest road was accepted without special conditions. Suggestions were made to improve it, make it better and more functional, so that larger fire trucks can easily pass, and to have better drainage system for the road.