1- University of Tabriz
Abstract: (28 Views)
Introduction and Objective:
Hyrcanian forests, as one of Iran's vital natural resources, play a significant role in providing ecological and economic services. Sustainable management of these forests requires a detailed and comprehensive study of socio-economic indicators that can help maintain and optimize these resources. Identifying these indicators not only affects the economic well-being of local communities but can also improve social and environmental conditions. The study of socio-economic indices in the sustainable management of Hyrcanian forests is particularly important, as these indices are fundamental to the success of management programs. Local communities dependent on forest resources for their livelihoods must actively participate in decision-making and implementation processes to sustain their economic needs. Forests can also serve as a source of poverty reduction, as forest products—including timber, non-wood forest products, and ecosystem services such as forest-based tourism—provide substantial income for local households. The degree of community dependence on forests can be highly variable. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the status of socio-economic indicators, emphasizing the impact of forest resources on the livelihood and economic welfare of local households and their role in reducing poverty and income inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) among forest communities in the Hyrcanian forests of Chalus and Kelardasht.
Materials and Methods:
This research was conducted in areas covered by forest management plans in the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran, specifically in Chalus and Kelardasht, western Mazandaran province. Random sampling was employed to select households in the villages, considering the geographical distribution and ensuring access to respondents with diverse characteristics (e.g., age, gender, education level, and forest dependency). Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires from 215 households during spring and summer of 2025. The questionnaire's validity was confirmed through the collective perspectives of university professors and natural resources experts, and its reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha in a similar community (30 households). Data analysis included descriptive statistics and inferential tests, such as correlation analysis, using SPSS version 21. Key questionnaire topics included personal and professional characteristics, type and extent of forest dependence, frequency of forest visits, changes in dependency, and access to forest resources over the past ten years. The impact of Hyrcanian forests on poverty reduction and income inequality was analyzed by calculating the Gini coefficient both with and without forest income and examining poverty rates among local communities.
Results:
The average household size was 3.5 persons, and the mean distance to the forest was 1.4 km. Seasonal visitation patterns reflected forest dependence, with respondents reporting more visits during spring and summer (3.1 ± 1.9) compared to autumn and winter (1.8 ± 0.1), showing a significant difference at the 1% level. Approximately 88.7% of respondents reported using forests and forest products, with an average dependence score of 2.7 on a Likert scale, above the midpoint. The most commonly used forest resources were forest fruits (n=184), medicinal plants (n=162), and fuelwood (n=158). The highest and lowest dependency scores were for water supply from forests (3.9) and materials for building houses, barns, and stables (1.4), respectively. Among goods and services, access to raw materials for handicrafts was relatively better, while building materials and animal fodder varied more among households. The average monthly household income was 121 million rials, with forest income accounting for 24% of total income (ranging from 4% to 61%). The Gini coefficient differed significantly with forest income (0.4) and without it (0.52), indicating that forest income reduces income inequality. Education was negatively and significantly correlated with forest dependency, suggesting that higher education reduces reliance on direct forest exploitation. Regression analysis indicated that age, education level, household size, farmland area, and number of livestock significantly influenced forest dependency, explaining approximately 24% of its variance.
Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that forests play an important role in the economy and livelihoods of households. Forest resources contribute approximately 24% of total household income, and removing this income would increase income inequality. The primary dependence of households on forests is for collecting forest fruits and medicinal plants. Additionally, access to forest resources has changed over the past decades. Based on these findings, practical recommendations include creating sustainable and alternative employment opportunities, promoting environmental education and community participation, improving market access and infrastructure, supporting forest-based programs such as participatory forestry and small-scale industries, and strengthening indigenous value chains. These measures can reduce low-income households’ dependence on forests, alleviate pressure on natural resources, and enhance economic equity and livelihood security for forest-dwelling communities.
Hyrcanian forests, as one of Iran's vital natural resources, play a significant role in providing ecological and economic services. Sustainable management of these forests requires a detailed and comprehensive study of socio-economic indicators that can help maintain and optimize these resources. Identifying these indicators not only affects the economic well-being of local communities but can also improve social and environmental conditions. The study of socio-economic indices in the sustainable management of Hyrcanian forests is particularly important, as these indices are fundamental to the success of management programs. Local communities dependent on forest resources for their livelihoods must actively participate in decision-making and implementation processes to sustain their economic needs. Forests can also serve as a source of poverty reduction, as forest products—including timber, non-wood forest products, and ecosystem services such as forest-based tourism—provide substantial income for local households. The degree of community dependence on forests can be highly variable. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the status of socio-economic indicators, emphasizing the impact of forest resources on the livelihood and economic welfare of local households and their role in reducing poverty and income inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) among forest communities in the Hyrcanian forests of Chalus and Kelardasht.
Materials and Methods:
This research was conducted in areas covered by forest management plans in the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran, specifically in Chalus and Kelardasht, western Mazandaran province. Random sampling was employed to select households in the villages, considering the geographical distribution and ensuring access to respondents with diverse characteristics (e.g., age, gender, education level, and forest dependency). Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires from 215 households during spring and summer of 2025. The questionnaire's validity was confirmed through the collective perspectives of university professors and natural resources experts, and its reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha in a similar community (30 households). Data analysis included descriptive statistics and inferential tests, such as correlation analysis, using SPSS version 21. Key questionnaire topics included personal and professional characteristics, type and extent of forest dependence, frequency of forest visits, changes in dependency, and access to forest resources over the past ten years. The impact of Hyrcanian forests on poverty reduction and income inequality was analyzed by calculating the Gini coefficient both with and without forest income and examining poverty rates among local communities.
Results:
The average household size was 3.5 persons, and the mean distance to the forest was 1.4 km. Seasonal visitation patterns reflected forest dependence, with respondents reporting more visits during spring and summer (3.1 ± 1.9) compared to autumn and winter (1.8 ± 0.1), showing a significant difference at the 1% level. Approximately 88.7% of respondents reported using forests and forest products, with an average dependence score of 2.7 on a Likert scale, above the midpoint. The most commonly used forest resources were forest fruits (n=184), medicinal plants (n=162), and fuelwood (n=158). The highest and lowest dependency scores were for water supply from forests (3.9) and materials for building houses, barns, and stables (1.4), respectively. Among goods and services, access to raw materials for handicrafts was relatively better, while building materials and animal fodder varied more among households. The average monthly household income was 121 million rials, with forest income accounting for 24% of total income (ranging from 4% to 61%). The Gini coefficient differed significantly with forest income (0.4) and without it (0.52), indicating that forest income reduces income inequality. Education was negatively and significantly correlated with forest dependency, suggesting that higher education reduces reliance on direct forest exploitation. Regression analysis indicated that age, education level, household size, farmland area, and number of livestock significantly influenced forest dependency, explaining approximately 24% of its variance.
Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that forests play an important role in the economy and livelihoods of households. Forest resources contribute approximately 24% of total household income, and removing this income would increase income inequality. The primary dependence of households on forests is for collecting forest fruits and medicinal plants. Additionally, access to forest resources has changed over the past decades. Based on these findings, practical recommendations include creating sustainable and alternative employment opportunities, promoting environmental education and community participation, improving market access and infrastructure, supporting forest-based programs such as participatory forestry and small-scale industries, and strengthening indigenous value chains. These measures can reduce low-income households’ dependence on forests, alleviate pressure on natural resources, and enhance economic equity and livelihood security for forest-dwelling communities.
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