Opportunities and threats in utilization of non-wood products in Baneh forests

Document Type : Scientific article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, Forestry Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

2 Associate Prof., Forestry Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

3 Member of Scientific Board, University of Applied Science and Technology, Razavi Khorasan Affiliate

4 Assistant Prof., The Center for Research and Development of Northern Zagros Forests,, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan

Abstract

Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) and environmental values are preferred to woody products in Zagros forests. This study aimed to plan a utilization policy for NWFPs including Gazu, Mazouj and acorns. Therefore, three villages (Gandoman, Mirhesam and Kokh-e Mamo) in the Armardeh municipality in southwest of the city of Baneh in the Kurdistan province of Iran were investigated. The SWOT analysis technique was applied for planning. Field data were collected via an empirical survey based mainly on face-to-face interviews and questionnaires distributed amongst the ecosystem stakeholders. Respondents were selected among stakeholders of local community (12 individuals of local people and 18 individuals of experts). The results of SWOT and Space Matrix analyses revealed that an aggressive, competitive, defensive and conservative strategy is appropriate for NWFP utilization. Results also showed that the most important strength, weakness, opportunity, and threats concerning the utilization of Gazu included social acceptance from local communities, soil erosion, reduction of rural-urban migration, and air pollution due to dust storm, respectively. For Mazouj, utilization those factors included household’s income, collection by non-local people (resulted in conflicts and tree damages), people motivation for participatory management, and lack of marketing and formal supports, respectively. Finally, livestock feeding, damaging to high forest regeneration, creating alternative livelihoods, and jeopardizing the continuity and sustainability of the forest are m to be of major concern when utilizing acorns. By analyzing the opinions of experts, an aggressive management strategy for the utilization of Gazu and Mazouj and a competitive management strategy for acorn are prescribed by this study.

Keywords

References

- Adeli, K., Jalilvand, H., Yakhkeshi, A.  and Fallah, A., 2008. Evaluating of forest sustainability affected by tribal forestry (Case study: Shoul Abad-Lorestan, Iran). Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 16(1): 23-37 (In Persian).
- Aliahmadi, A., 2008. A Comprehensive Approaches on Strategic Management. Published by Tolid-e anesh, Tehran, 465p (In Persian).
- Amirkabiri, A., 2012. Strategic Management. Published by Negahe-Danesh, Tehran, 320p (In Persian).
- Anonymous, 2005. Manage Multiple Projects with Emphasis on Organizing Pollarding in Armardeh. Published by Kurdistan Natural Resources and Watershed Management, 70p (In Persian).
- Croitoru, L., 2007. Valuing the non-timber forest product in the Mediterranean region. Ecological Economics, 63: 768-775.
- Davidson, L., Duchesne. L. and Zasada, J., 1998. Non-timber forest products: local livelihoods and integrated forest management. Forest Ecology and Management, 43: 222-341.
- Fattahi, M., 1993. What is Ghazo?. Pajuhesh and Sazandegi, 6(22): 44-49 (In Persian).
- Fattahi, M., 2000. Zagros Forest Management. Published by Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, 471p (In Persian).
- Fayzi, K. and Dosthosaini, M., 2013. Delphi Method to Study Decision-Making and Futurology. Published by Industrial Management Institute, Tehran, 144p (In Persian).
- Ghazanfari, H., 2003. Study of growth and diameter distribution, in order to preparing the forest regulation methods in Baneh region (case study of Havareh-Khol). Ph.D. thesis, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, 86p (In Persian).
- Gopalakrishnan, C., Wuckramasinghe, W.A.R. and Gunatilake, H.M., 2005. Estimating the demand for non-timber forest products among rural. Agroforestry System, 65: 13-22.
- Iranmanesh, Y., Jahanbazi, H., Sohrabi, H. and Sagheb Talebi, K., 2013. Nutritional and medicinal characteristics of acorn in Zagros forests. The National Symposium of Medicinal Plants, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Aiattollah Amoli, Amol. 22 July, 2013: 22-30 (In Persian).
- Khezrian, B., Miraki, A. and Rostami Shahraji, T., 2014. Studying the production of MAZOJ and its income on Sardasht forests. The second national student symposium of forest science. Tehran, 7-8 May. 2014: 6p (In Persian).
- Kleinn, C., Yang. Y., Weyerjauser, H. and Stark, M., 2006. The sustainable harvest of timber forest products in China. Forest Ecology and Management, 65: 13-22.
- Mahdavi, A., Shamekhi, T. and Sobhani, H., 2011. The role of non-wood forest products in livelihood of forest dwellers (case study: Kamyaran city, Kurdistan province). Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 19(3): 370-379 (In Persian).
- Mahdavi, A., Sobhani, H., Shamekhi, T. and Fattahi, M., 2008. Investigation on non-wood forest products and the utilization methods in Kamyaran forests. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 16(4): 507-520 (In Persian).
- Mansori, M., Sosani, J. and Badeian, Z., 2013. Studying the non-wood products of Zagros forests. The first national symposium of medicinal plants and sustainable agriculture. Iran, 10 Oct. 2013: 58-63 (In Persian).
- Najafi, M.R., Mahdavi, A., Roshaninia, F. and Kalantari, Z., 2014. Introducing the non-wood products of Ilam province. The second national student symposium of forest science. Tehran, 7-8 May. 2014: 112-117 (In Persian).
- Ndangalasi. H.J., Bitariho, R. and Dovie, D.B.K., 2007. Harvesting of non-timber forest products and implications for conservation in two montane forests of east Africa. Biological Conservation, 134(2): 242–250.
- Norozi, R. and Mirzaee, G., 2014. The medicinal features and non-wood products of Quercus in Iran. The second national student symposium of forest science. Tehran, 7-8 May. 2014: 188-192 (In Persian).
- Parsaeyan, A. and Erabi, M., 2003. Strategic Management. Pazhoheshaeyeh Farhangi Publications, Tehran, 658p (In Persian).
- Shojaee, M., 1980. Investigation on Cynipidea in oak forests of Iran. Journal of Entomological Society of Iran, Special Issue 3, 48p (In Persian).
- Tabatabaee, M. and Ghaisariani, F., 1992. The Natural Resource of Kurdistan. Published by Jahad-Daneshgai, Tehran, 767p (In Persian).
- Willem, V., Jonathan, R., Kathrin, S., Elaine, M. and Fabrice, E., 2006. Entrepreneurship in value chains of non-timber forest products. Forest Policy and Economics, 8(7): 725-741.
- Zandebasiri, M. and Ghazanfari, H., 2010. The main consequences of affecting factors on forest management of local settlers in the Zagros forests, case study: Ghalegol watershed in Lorestan province. Iranian Journal of Forest, 2(2): 127-138 (In Persian).
- Zandebasiri, M., Ghazanfari, H., Sepahvand, A. and Fatehi, P., 2010. Presentation of decision making pattern for forest management unit under uncertainty conditions, case study: Taf local area-Lorestan. Iranian Journal of Forest, 3(2): 109-120 (In Persian).

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics