Forest Degradation: an Investigation of Forestry Organization Experts and Local Herder's Mental Models

Mental models are the reference frame works in which people interpret the world around them. In this paper، mental models of two main stakeholder groups (forestry experts in Forest، Rangeland، and Watershed Organization and the local herders of Lire-Sar watershed) were analyzed in the context of forest degradation. The required data have been obtained through semi-structured interviews with individual members of each group. The results were conceptualized in the system dynamics approach and the cause and effect diagram of each groups were derived. The results of the mental models diagraming of the two groups show that each group blames the other group for the degradation process and they are not expected to revise their actions. Organizing training courses about the goals and objectives of the forestry projects for the local herders and villagers، and improving the forestry organization experts capacity and capability in dealing with the mental models that are based on the policies and decision makings، would be useful in creating a proper atmosphere for these two groups to understand the priorities and objectives of each other.