Challenges Facing the Improvement of Forest Management in the Hyrcanian Forests of Iran
We address two main challenges facing the implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM) in the Hyrcanian forest of Iran: inconsistent forest policy and the use of outdated science and techniques. We propose the Sustainable Hyrcanian Forest Management Model (SHFMM) as the best currently avail...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | Forests |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/12/2180 |
| _version_ | 1797458334169694208 |
|---|---|
| author | Zahra Goushehgir Jahangir Feghhi John L. Innes |
| author_facet | Zahra Goushehgir Jahangir Feghhi John L. Innes |
| author_sort | Zahra Goushehgir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We address two main challenges facing the implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM) in the Hyrcanian forest of Iran: inconsistent forest policy and the use of outdated science and techniques. We propose the Sustainable Hyrcanian Forest Management Model (SHFMM) as the best currently available solution to achieve improved management of the northern forests of Iran. The management of the Hyrcanian forests suffers from a lack of scientific knowledge and state-of-the-art technologies. There is a pronounced difference in the mindsets of older and new-school forestry scholars regarding how to approach these deficiencies: the old-school mentality prefers conventional forestry despite its limitations, whereas more recently trained scholars believe that the adoption of 21st-century technological advances would lead to improved management. The lack of trust between policymakers and local communities is another significant challenge and has resulted in conflicts over management practices in the Hyrcanian forests. We suggest that the Hyrcanian Sustainable Forest management model (SHFMM) would provide a hierarchical framework for making decisions. Using this model, each sector—whether state or private—is empowered to make decisions. Further, it encourages all sectors to work together in its holistic implementation. The SHFMM is based on the outcomes of several independent studies of forest management in the Hyrcanian forest. Despite its site specificity, many lessons learned during its development could be applied elsewhere. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:36:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ca6e8ecca3d04257b32084a08d908294 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:36:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-ca6e8ecca3d04257b32084a08d9082942023-11-24T14:56:48ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-12-011312218010.3390/f13122180Challenges Facing the Improvement of Forest Management in the Hyrcanian Forests of IranZahra Goushehgir0Jahangir Feghhi1John L. Innes2Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaDepartment of Forestry and Forest Economics, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj 146899-5513, IranDepartment of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaWe address two main challenges facing the implementation of sustainable forest management (SFM) in the Hyrcanian forest of Iran: inconsistent forest policy and the use of outdated science and techniques. We propose the Sustainable Hyrcanian Forest Management Model (SHFMM) as the best currently available solution to achieve improved management of the northern forests of Iran. The management of the Hyrcanian forests suffers from a lack of scientific knowledge and state-of-the-art technologies. There is a pronounced difference in the mindsets of older and new-school forestry scholars regarding how to approach these deficiencies: the old-school mentality prefers conventional forestry despite its limitations, whereas more recently trained scholars believe that the adoption of 21st-century technological advances would lead to improved management. The lack of trust between policymakers and local communities is another significant challenge and has resulted in conflicts over management practices in the Hyrcanian forests. We suggest that the Hyrcanian Sustainable Forest management model (SHFMM) would provide a hierarchical framework for making decisions. Using this model, each sector—whether state or private—is empowered to make decisions. Further, it encourages all sectors to work together in its holistic implementation. The SHFMM is based on the outcomes of several independent studies of forest management in the Hyrcanian forest. Despite its site specificity, many lessons learned during its development could be applied elsewhere.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/12/2180sustainable forest managementthe Hyrcanian sustainable forest management modelforest scienceforest technologyAnalytic Hierarchy ProcessIran |
| spellingShingle | Zahra Goushehgir Jahangir Feghhi John L. Innes Challenges Facing the Improvement of Forest Management in the Hyrcanian Forests of Iran Forests sustainable forest management the Hyrcanian sustainable forest management model forest science forest technology Analytic Hierarchy Process Iran |
| title | Challenges Facing the Improvement of Forest Management in the Hyrcanian Forests of Iran |
| title_full | Challenges Facing the Improvement of Forest Management in the Hyrcanian Forests of Iran |
| title_fullStr | Challenges Facing the Improvement of Forest Management in the Hyrcanian Forests of Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges Facing the Improvement of Forest Management in the Hyrcanian Forests of Iran |
| title_short | Challenges Facing the Improvement of Forest Management in the Hyrcanian Forests of Iran |
| title_sort | challenges facing the improvement of forest management in the hyrcanian forests of iran |
| topic | sustainable forest management the Hyrcanian sustainable forest management model forest science forest technology Analytic Hierarchy Process Iran |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/12/2180 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zahragoushehgir challengesfacingtheimprovementofforestmanagementinthehyrcanianforestsofiran AT jahangirfeghhi challengesfacingtheimprovementofforestmanagementinthehyrcanianforestsofiran AT johnlinnes challengesfacingtheimprovementofforestmanagementinthehyrcanianforestsofiran |