Forest harvesting operational planning tools: a systematic review of optimization, simulation, and spatial decision support systems

Sustainable forest management relies on effective operational planning to ensure that harvesting practices support long-term objectives. Operations research methods have largely been used to support operational decision-making in forest harvest planning but the broader strengths, limitations and barriers to adoption remain unclear. This review addresses this gap by synthesizing existing research on operational planning tools for forest harvesting. Using PRISMA protocols, we conducted systematic searches in Scopus and Web of Science and identified 23 peer-reviewed studies published between 2005 and 2024. The included studies employed diverse approaches across geographic regions, most commonly being mixed-integer programming and geographic information systems (GIS). Results show that while these models provide valuable insights and demonstrate technical expertise, they are often hard-coded to specific sites, lack reproducibility and are rarely open-source. Developing modular, transparent and user-centric tools could strengthen the existing connection between research and practice, enabling forest planners to manage uncertainty and improve efficiency while aligning with broader sustainability goals. Our findings highlight the importance of designing adaptable frameworks that embed site-specificity as a structural element rather than a limitation. We synthesize findings into a practitioner checklist, covering inputs, constraints, solution approach, validation, user experience and openness to guide tool design and evaluation.