Providing a model for designing the criteria and markers for sustainable management of Zagros forest (Case study: Firouzabad forests of Kermanshah)

According to the importance of Zagros forests and their sustainability, it is necessary to introduce sustainability management indicators being appropriate to these forests. For this purpose, forests of Firoozabad district belonging to Kermanshah were selected. The study area was screened and analyzed by DPSIR method to obtain a complete understanding of the relationship between phenomena and subjects. Then, based on the TOP Down method, the series of criteria and markers in different regions of the world were investigated. Indicator Reporting on the Integration of Environmental Concerns into Agricultural Policy (IRENA) was used to design the criteria and markers for sustainable management of Zagros forests. The initial list of markers and criteria was prepared by local stakeholders (A total of 30 people) using Likert scale. After calculating the mean and relative weight of scores, the final list of criteria and markers was prepared. The results of DPSIR process showed that the most important driving forces in the studied area were: poverty, inadequate job opportunities and loss of access to new knowledge and technologies. In our study, 5 criteria and 30 markers were introduced. Results showed the most important and the least important criteria in study area were legal and customary frameworks for forest management (with relative weight of 0.819) and extent and area percent of regional ecosystems (with relative weight of 0.65). The most important markers of the 5th criteria (the most important criteria) were the existence of solutions for eliminating disparities between farmers regarding grazing livestock, harvesting non-wood products and the rate of compliance with local customs in the exploitation of land and natural resources in the area.