Hossein Pourhossein1 
, Hassan Akbari *1 , Aliasghar Firozjaeian2 , Majid Lotfalian1 , Asghar Fallah1
, Hassan Akbari *1 , Aliasghar Firozjaeian2 , Majid Lotfalian1 , Asghar Fallah1
1- Sari Agricultural Science and Natural Resources University
2- Mazandaran University
2- Mazandaran University
Abstract: (131 Views)
Background and objectives: Destruction of environmental resources is one of the serious challenges of today's societies. But it seems that the destruction of some of these resources is more in developing countries. Forests are constantly being destroyed as one of the environmental resources, especially in our country, and wood smuggling is considered as one of the common methods of deforestation, especially in the forests of the north of the country. Unauthorized cutting of forest timber and their smuggling phenomenon is one of the complex problems of natural resources in Iran. Forest destruction through wood smuggling has irreparable consequences for other parts of the environment, so investigating the areas that lead to wood smuggling is of particular importance. However, considering the importance of wood smuggling and subsequent forest destruction, it can be concluded that this issue has cultural, social and economic contexts, and knowing these factors and contexts is the way for proper planning in order to preserve and improve resources. It smooths the forest. Based on this, in this research, an attempt was made to provide an analysis of the status and quantity of wood trafficking in the east of Mazandaran province by emphasizing a hybrid approach while identifying the factors and factors affecting wood smuggling in Mazandaran province (eastern region). In the present research, we tried to answer the questions, what are the fields of wood smuggling in the eastern basin of Mazandaran province? And what is the prioritization of factors affecting wood smuggling in the eastern basin of Mazandaran province? be answered
Methodology: This research was carried out for the east of Mazandaran province using a qualitative and exploratory method. The research method in the present study is a type of qualitative research based on the interpretive paradigm and with an emphasis on thematic analysis. Based on thematic analysis, descriptive coding was first followed by interpretive coding and finally comprehensive categories were extracted from the data. The main categories included the organizational-administrative, legal-control, economic, cultural, social, political and political context of wood smuggling. After identifying the main themes, core categories and sub-categories, the core categories were prioritized. To score the categories, a five-point Likert scale was used, including items of very low importance (1), low importance (2), medium importance (3), high importance (4) and very high importance (5). Research information was obtained through unstructured and face-to-face interviews with the main actors related to the issue of wood trafficking. The sampling method in qualitative-field research is qualitative sampling, which is also called purposive sampling or theoretical sampling. In this sampling method, the number of interviewed people, or in other words, the sample size depends on the theoretical saturation of the investigated questions. Research information was collected from four groups of stakeholders related to wood trafficking, including local communities (forest dwellers and ranchers), employees of the Natural Resources Organization, wood buyers and sellers (stockholders and smugglers), and environmental activists through semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed through thematic analysis technique. In the present study, various aspects were considered to achieve credibility. In order to reach the criterion of trustworthiness, three conventional techniques were used (Kval & Brinckman, 2009): after conducting and implementing the interviews, the interview text was checked and evaluated by the participants (validation by members). Also, by constantly referring to the text of the interviews, the correctness of the codes and themes created was evaluated (analytical comparison). Then the supervisors and advisors acted as external inspectors in all stages of the research and the final themes were evaluated by them (audit technique).
Results: At the beginning of the analysis and at the coding stage, the sentences from the interviews were re-examined. At this stage, an attempt was made to extract key categories from the sentences. At first, 49 categories were extracted from the key propositions, and according to the points of commonality, they were placed next to each other and grouped into 22 core categories. These categories were finally classified into six themes related to wood smuggling, including organizational-administrative context, legal-control context, economic context, cultural context, social context and political-political context. The results related to the prioritization of the key categories of the main themes of wood smuggling in the east of Mazandaran province showed that the categories "low punishment deterrence", "profitable economic activity" and "economic and income problems" respectively with the averages of 4.2, 4 and 3.9 in the priorities First to third were among 22 core categories. Also, the categories "increasing demand for land in forest areas", "sale of barren land" and "weakness of environmental socialization" were ranked among the 22 core categories with the averages of 2.1, 2.2 and 4.3 respectively. .
Conclusion: In general, the results showed that wood smuggling is affected by multiple factors and all aspects must be considered to control and prevent it. The results of the current research provide detailed information in the field of policy and program adoption to managers and policy makers of the forest sector, which will have a positive result in the formulation and implementation of plans.
Methodology: This research was carried out for the east of Mazandaran province using a qualitative and exploratory method. The research method in the present study is a type of qualitative research based on the interpretive paradigm and with an emphasis on thematic analysis. Based on thematic analysis, descriptive coding was first followed by interpretive coding and finally comprehensive categories were extracted from the data. The main categories included the organizational-administrative, legal-control, economic, cultural, social, political and political context of wood smuggling. After identifying the main themes, core categories and sub-categories, the core categories were prioritized. To score the categories, a five-point Likert scale was used, including items of very low importance (1), low importance (2), medium importance (3), high importance (4) and very high importance (5). Research information was obtained through unstructured and face-to-face interviews with the main actors related to the issue of wood trafficking. The sampling method in qualitative-field research is qualitative sampling, which is also called purposive sampling or theoretical sampling. In this sampling method, the number of interviewed people, or in other words, the sample size depends on the theoretical saturation of the investigated questions. Research information was collected from four groups of stakeholders related to wood trafficking, including local communities (forest dwellers and ranchers), employees of the Natural Resources Organization, wood buyers and sellers (stockholders and smugglers), and environmental activists through semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed through thematic analysis technique. In the present study, various aspects were considered to achieve credibility. In order to reach the criterion of trustworthiness, three conventional techniques were used (Kval & Brinckman, 2009): after conducting and implementing the interviews, the interview text was checked and evaluated by the participants (validation by members). Also, by constantly referring to the text of the interviews, the correctness of the codes and themes created was evaluated (analytical comparison). Then the supervisors and advisors acted as external inspectors in all stages of the research and the final themes were evaluated by them (audit technique).
Results: At the beginning of the analysis and at the coding stage, the sentences from the interviews were re-examined. At this stage, an attempt was made to extract key categories from the sentences. At first, 49 categories were extracted from the key propositions, and according to the points of commonality, they were placed next to each other and grouped into 22 core categories. These categories were finally classified into six themes related to wood smuggling, including organizational-administrative context, legal-control context, economic context, cultural context, social context and political-political context. The results related to the prioritization of the key categories of the main themes of wood smuggling in the east of Mazandaran province showed that the categories "low punishment deterrence", "profitable economic activity" and "economic and income problems" respectively with the averages of 4.2, 4 and 3.9 in the priorities First to third were among 22 core categories. Also, the categories "increasing demand for land in forest areas", "sale of barren land" and "weakness of environmental socialization" were ranked among the 22 core categories with the averages of 2.1, 2.2 and 4.3 respectively. .
Conclusion: In general, the results showed that wood smuggling is affected by multiple factors and all aspects must be considered to control and prevent it. The results of the current research provide detailed information in the field of policy and program adoption to managers and policy makers of the forest sector, which will have a positive result in the formulation and implementation of plans.
Keywords: Socio-economic, forest destruction, forest protection, illegal cutting of trees, forest policy
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