This study focused on eight softwood (conifer) species traditionally used by the Greek wood industry—for furniture, sawn timber, plywood, and roundwood. Using the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), which compares different options based on several key factors, the research combined two tools (PROMETHEE and AHP) to rank the wood quality of each species. Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) came out on top, showing it has great potential for supporting the country’s timber sector.
Greece’s trade patterns in wood and wood products reflect broader Mediterranean trade dynamics, where imports dominate due to a persistent decline in the availability of certain wood products in short supply. The Greek forest sector faces several key challenges, including the natural characteristics of Greek forests, restrictive policies on timber production investments, especially in state-owned industries, a lack of market research, inefficient wood sales procedures, low product quality, high production costs, and periods of economic recession.
By focusing on softwood production in specific regions, Greece can make more efficient use of its natural vegetation zones—boosting timber yields while promoting sustainable forest management. This approach also offers opportunities for more selective and targeted planting of specific softwood species where needed. This can lead to better-quality forest products and more efficient timber production.
Balancing tree growth rate, wood strength, and harvesting efficiency is a key to keeping forests healthy and supporting long-term wood supply, both in Greece and globally.
