Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
PhD candidate, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Naraq Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran
2
PhD in International Law, Department of Law, Payam-e-Noor University, Tehran, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, criminal law and criminology, Judiciary Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
10.22092/ijfrpr.2023.360027.1553
Abstract
The intrusion of indigenous individuals into western forests of the country leads to commitment of environmental crimes. Identification of intrusion and human factors of forest destruction leads to offering proper management solutions for prevention and reduction of environmental crimes. Approval and execution of effective laws by the government and citizens' adherence to the law reduce environmental crimes. In the present study, the economic and social factors affecting land use change in the forests of Kermanshah Province were examined using linear modeling and path analysis based on 87 legal cases related to 76 villages surrounding the Zagros forests during the years 2019 to 2021. Due to the limited statistical community, all cases were examined without sampling. Correlation of variables showed that the increase in the distance from the village to the city, the ratio of light livestock to population and the ratio of livestock to agricultural land and natural resource areas, lack of infrastructure facilities, insufficient non-agricultural economic activities, decrease in land per capita ratio to population, decrease in irrigated agriculture ratio to rain-fed agriculture, and decrease in heavy livestock ratio to population resulted in increased forest destruction. A significant linear regression relationship was observed between independent variables and the dependent variable, and variables such as the ratio of livestock to agricultural land, non-agricultural economic activity, infrastructure facilities, ratio of livestock count to natural resource areas, and distance from village to city were entered into the model. Finally, based on the results obtained from path analysis, it can be stated that maintaining more heavy livestock and reducing the number of light livestock leads to decreased forest destruction in Kermanshah Province. Furthermore, developing village infrastructure and non-agricultural economic activities play an important role in reducing forest area destruction. Therefore, for reducing legal cases of forest destruction and preventing criminal behavior in this area, it is better to focus on expanding infrastructure and increasing rural income through non-agricultural economic activities, as well as transitioning livestock farming practices from traditional to semi-industrial or industrial, to witness a reduction in such cases at the provincial level.
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