Identification and analysis of key drivers effective on the development of social forestry in the forests of Golestan province with a future research approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Executive Expert, General Department of Natural Resources and Watershed, Golestan Province, Gorgan, Iran

10.22092/ijfrpr.2023.361275.1567

Abstract

In light of the inefficiency of conventional and traditional forest conservation systems, the shift from government-centered to community-centered policies in forest management through social forestry becomes increasingly essential. Accordingly, the necessity for employing structural analyses with a futures-oriented approach is emphasized. Based on this premise, the present study aimed to identify and analyze the key drivers influencing the development of social forestry using a futures-oriented approach in the forests of Golestan Province. This research employed a mixed-method (qualitative and quantitative) design and was conducted through survey technique. The study population consisted of experts and forest protection personnel in Golestan Province. A total of 50 participants were purposefully selected as the sample. After data collection, 20 indicators derived from the Delphi method were analyzed using the MicMac software, incorporating cross-impact analysis. The results indicated that the social component has the highest impact, while the economic component has the least impact on the development of social forestry in Golestan Province's forests. Based on the obtained results, two factors, namely "Shifting from Centralized Government-Centered Policy to Integrated Community-Centered Management" and "Benefitting from Governmental Economic and Budgetary Support," from the policy-management component, "Conducting Facilitative Activities and Utilizing Village Promoters for Community-Centered Management" and "Identifying Rural Leaders and Involving Them in Community-Centered Forest Management" from the social component, and "Empowering Local Communities through New Job Opportunities and Strengthening Income Resources" from the economic component, were identified as the most influential key drivers for the development of social forestry in Golestan Province's forest management. In light of the findings, the development of a long-term vision document considering the three dimensions of forest protection, local communities, livelihood, and empowerment, with a future-oriented perspective, is recommended.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Forest and Range Protection Research
Volume 21, Issue 1 - Serial Number 41
September 2023
Pages 90-106

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History

  • Receive Date: 29 January 2023
  • Revise Date: 30 April 2023
  • Accept Date: 28 August 2023

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