Spatial Forest Resources Planning Model: A New Strategy for Iranian Forest Planning

Currently, Iranian Forest resources planning is dominated by national, regional and sub-regional planning causing numerous damages to forests. In this study, the necessity of using a spatial forest resources planning process for macro management of country's forest resources and presenting the analytical model to the current practice has been investigated. Given the nature of macro perspective of spatial planning which contains various development plans and environmental protection simultaneously, the selection of this model provides a suitable strategy in the process of macro forest resources planning. The model presented here was conducted using qualitative analysis, citation analysis and content analysis. In the proposed model, the development process uses the nature of the performance and function of forest ecosystems based on the structure and biological processes of the ecosystem (Ecosystem analysis). On the other hand, the process employs the correlation between human and nature (Human Ecology).‌ This model can be conducted in five stages including analysis of the existing conditions of customary forest areas, evaluation of ecosystem services supply, assessment of forest resources demand, determining the units of management and optimizing the distribution of services. By implementing the spatial forest resource planning, a sustainable approach can be achieved in planning the forest resources of Iran.