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Abstract:The main purpose of this study was to investigate the links between forest dwellers' participation in reforestation and development of forest areas in west Mazandaran of Iran and a set of socio-economic variables. The statistical population includes all forest dwellers living in villages, which locate in the west Mazandaran in Iran and had been covered by local forestry cooperative. A sample of 110 forest dwellers were selected by the use of proportional random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect data. For determining the validity of questionnaire, the content validity was used. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure reliability of the index measuring level of participation in reforestation and development of forest areas that its extent was 0.86 and showed that mentioned variable had high reliability. The data were analyzed by the use of descriptive and inferential statistics such as extent of mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The findings revealed that age, level of literacy, level of participation in extension-education courses, using level of communication channels and information resources, level of forest dependency, social participation, social solidarity, economic and social motivations are positively and significantly (p<0.01) correlated with level of forest dwellers' participation in reforestation and development of forest areas. Household size is positively and significantly (p<0.05) correlated with level of forest dwellers' participation in reforestation and development of forest areas. The result of multiple regression showed that variables of level of participation in extension-education courses, age, household size, level of economic motivation, social solidarity and level of literacy could explain 51.4% of the variation in the level of forest dwellers' participation in reforestation and development of forest areas.

Abstract:The main purpose of this study was to analyze factors influencing motivation of villagers' participation in activities of social forestry. The statistical population includes all villagers living in villages, which locate in the west Mazandaran of Iran and had been covered by local forestry cooperative. A sample of 110 villagers were selected by the use of proportional random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect data. For determining the validity of the questionnaire, the content validity was used. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure reliability of index measuring level of motivation of villagers' participation in activities of social forestry that its extent was 0.84 and showed that mentioned variable had high reliability. The data were analyzed by the use of descriptive and inferential statistics such as extent of mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The findings revealed that level of literacy, using level of mass communication media, level of participation in extension-education courses, social interaction and attitude toward participatory activities positively and significantly (p<0.01) correlated with the level of motivation of villagers' participation in activities of social forestry. The result of multiple regression showed that variables consisting: attitude toward participatory activities, using level of mass communication media, level of literacy and social interaction could explain 39.7% of the variation in the level of motivation of villagers' participation in activities of social forestry.

This paper traces the evolution of forest management around Chetan village in the northern part of the Elburz Mountains of north Iran, an area of broadleaved temperate forest in the Caspian region, during three distinct time periods. Since the 18th century the forest, pasture and agricultural land were administered under common rights, with a clear financial relationship between descendants of the dominant family and other families, until the constitutional revolution of 1906. Some decades of instability preceded establishment of various regulated and non-regulated orders by new powers. Finally, the Forest Nationalization Law 1963 established new institutions that continue today with some small variations, the government now being the main policy and decision-maker. The paper highlights the differences between the three periods; the third one expresses the impact of national policy on forest proprietorship and management at the village level and the interruption of traditional and transitional processes of management.

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