Representation of environmental cultural norms in Bakhtiari folk literature

Folk literature plays a prominent role in recognizing different types of attitudes and cultural norms of ethnic groups to various aspects of life, including environmental issues because this type of literature affects not only the institutionalization of these issues, but also their construction in any society. Accordingly, this research investigates the environment-related cultural norms in common Bakhtiari folk poems and tales in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Khuzestan provinces using the documentary method and analytical-descriptive approach, and provides answer to this question: What is the role of the environment in the formation of Bakhtiari folk literature? and, what cultural norms (beliefs) about the environment have been reflected in this literature? The results of this research show that Bakhtiari folk literature is an animal-plant-based literature and cultural norms in the area of environment have been represented in this literature, such that to preserve the hunt, factors such as age, gender, and hunting time have been considered, and in order to prevent the cutting of trees, the issue of their sanctity and regarding them as the symbol of life has been addressed. Of course, besides positive cultural norms, there are some inappropriate beliefs, such as the negative attitude toward some animals, plants, and trees, causing damage to the environment.