Forest Management in Zagros Area: A situation Analysis

In Iran, the responsibility for conservation and restoration of forests, as national resources, rests with the Government. In any analysis of forest management, the priority should be, thus, delivered to the role of the Government. As far as management of forests in Zagros Area is concerned, both the fragile ecosystem and growing destruction process have made it inevitable to follow a rationalized and scientific-based methodology for programs to be managed or carried out. Practicing this sort of management, however, calls for comprehensive studies so as to give deep insights into the recognition of the existing resources, constraints and needs. To this end, socio-economic concerns need to be emphasized. Also, appropriate planning for generating employment opportunities, changing farming and animal-husbandry systems, as well as establishing by-industries can protect the forests from being further destructed. This article is an attempt to provide some recommendations for improving the present state (status quo) through an analytical study of the factors involved in the management of forests.