Identifying the factors affecting the willingness of villagers to participate in forest firefighting in Iran’s Zagros forests

Abstract

One of the environmental factors affecting the forest ecosystem is fire. Local volunteer firefighters are often those who first respond to forest fires. This study was conducted aimed to determine the factors affecting their willingness to participate in firefighting in the northern Zagros forests of Iran (Sardasht County). For this purpose, after extracting Sardasht fire statistics during a 14-year period (2006-2019), the villages with the highest frequency of fires in the above period were selected. Organizing, facilities and equipment, indigenous knowledge and education for firefighting were selected as factors affecting the willingness to participate in firefighting. The research tools were a questionnaire and face-to-face interview. The statistical population included 649 households. According to Morgan's Table, the number of samples required for the distribution of questionnaires was n=242. The questionnaire questions were designed openly and closed with scores based on the Likert scale and the factors affecting villagers’ willingness to participate in firefighting were investigated by face-to-face interviews. The results of statistical analysis of data showed that organizing, knowledge and facilities had a significant effect on the participation of respondents. This study showed that for the villagers, organizing was the most effective factor and facilities was the last factor affecting their willingness to participate. Also, a positive and significant relationship was found between the participation and the level of education. Therefore, it is necessary for the promotion department of the Iran's Forests, Range and Watershed management Organization (FRWO), along with the protection unit of the organization, to provide special programs and policies for the organizing of the public, rural and volunteer firefighting forces before the fire spreads to control it in principle.