Presenting a Paradigm Model for the Phenomenon of Fire in the Forests of Chavar Township

Despite the great emphasis on the importance and protection of forests and the significant contribution these resources play in achieving sustainable development, the problems related to forest fires have become more critical. In this regard, the general goal of the current research was to present a paradigm model of the fire phenomenon in the forests of Chavar Township in Ilam Province by using the grounded theory method. The study population included experts and key informants in the field of forest management and protection, including experts from the Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management in Ilam and Chavar Township, trained forces of the protection unit of the Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Ilam province and Ilam and Chavar Township, the local communities of Bankhshak and Ganjvan villages were part of Chavar Township and non-governmental organizations (NGO) were active in the field of forest management and protection at the level of this Township. The participants in the research were selected using purposive and maximum variation sampling. Data were collected through depth interviews. The result of the application of grounded theory in this study was a conceptual model that showed human, participative, managerial, motivational and natural factors as causative conditions, cultural-social and economic factors as contextual conditions, and legal-policy-making, educational-informational factors, supervisory and infrastructural conditions as intervening conditions have caused the fire phenomenon in the forests of Chavar Township. The findings showed that extensional and educational, appropriate legislation and supervision, and managerial and economic strategies were the most important strategies to deal with the fire phenomenon in the forests of the study area.