The 16th Symposium for Systems Analysis in Forest Resources (SSAFR) was held in Uppsala, Sweden, August 19th–21st, 2015. For the first time this biannually organized symposium was held in Europe. More than one hundred researchers and professionals from 22 countries gathered to share the latest research findings in Operations Research and Systems Analysis in Forest Resources, and to brainstorm on new ideas across the subject areas of forest management, forest operations and logistics, wood sciences, industrial engineering, analytics and operations research.
The program consisted of a pre-conference field trip concentrated to the wood supply chain in Sweden, and three days of scientific presentations in 12 different thematic areas, covering a broad spectrum of relevant topics, from construction and use of decision support systems to forest management for biodiversity and environment, and to planning and control systems for forest-based supply chains. The plenary presentations (now available at http://www.skogforsk.se/english/products-and-events/events/ssafr-20151/) provided an excellent overview of the state-of-the art in the research field, and stimulated lively discussions about the topics. The symposium was particularly successful in bringing together researchers and forestry professionals, and it was delighting to see active participation of early stage researchers, indicating that the future of the research field is secured.
The collection of articles published in this special issue highlights the impressively broad and expanding scope of the systems analysis research area. Indeed, in the era of bioeconomy, scientifically tested knowledge about systems and operations is needed more than ever. This kind of knowledge is critical in supporting decision makers in their increasingly complex tasks. A solid scientific basis ensures sound improvements of strategies and procedures for sustainable utilization of forest resources, allowing us to improve the quality of life for the mankind.
I thank the authors and the reviewers for all their efforts, making this volume possible. It is my hope that this collection of articles inspires researchers in different countries to continue reaching for new knowledge in systems analysis applied to the forest-based sector.