Iranian Journal of Forest

Iranian Journal of Forest

Drivers affecting local community participation in mangrove social forestry projects (Case study: Qeshm Island)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
M Moslehi 1
F Ahmadi 2
A Hajebi 3
1 Associate Prof, Research Division of Natural Resources, Hormozgan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
2 Research Expert, Research Division of Natural Resources, Hormozgan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Bandar Abbas, Iran
3 Associate Prof, Research Division of Natural Resources, Hormozgan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Bandar Abbas, Iran
10.22034/ijf.2025.504059.2040
Abstract
Introduction: Setting the wheels of sustainable development in environmental areas, including mangrove forests, in motion requires social-based management. The aim of this study is to investigate the drivers affecting the participation of local communities in the mangrove social forestry project.
Materials and Methods: The scope of this study is the three villages of Soheili, Tabl, and Haftrangou on Qeshm Island. The statistical population includes fishing, tourism, and dock workers, of whom 211 people were randomly selected as a sample. The questionnaire was the measurement tool of this study. The questions were a five-point Likert scale from very low (1) to very high (5). The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by university professors and a technical expert from the Hormozgan General Directorate of Natural Resources. Cronbach's alpha values ​​were calculated to estimate the reliability of the questionnaire for "willingness to participate", "economic factors", "social", "environmental", "environmental knowledge" and "perceived environmental value" as 0.92, 0.90, 0.86, 0.92, 0.85 and 0.89, respectively. SPSS version 25 software was used to analyze the research data. Mean and standard deviation were used in the descriptive statistics section. Stepwise regression was used to examine the determinants of willingness to participate in the mangrove social forestry projects. Then, a causal path analysis model was used to explore the direct and indirect effects of independent variables on the dependent variable.
Results: Participants reported a mean score of willingness to participate related to the mangrove social forestry projects of 3.18 (standard deviation = 1.067). Also, the results showed that the economic factor was the strongest predictor of the community's willingness to participate in the mangrove community forestry project (β = 0.444, p < 0.000). Perceived environmental value was the second factor for predicting the willingness to participate (β = 0.388, p < 0.000) and social factors were the third predictor for the dependent variable (β = 0.381, p < 0.000). According to the causal model of the research, the highest direct effect on the willingness to participate was related to the "economic" index, and the highest indirect effect and the highest total effect were related to the "perceived environmental value" index.
Discussion: Among the variables studied, the economic index was the strongest predictor of participation and had the highest direct effect on the willingness to participate in the mangrove community forestry projects. Due to the expectations of local communities regarding the economic impact of these projects on their livelihoods and the effectiveness of mangrove social forestry projects, planners and decision-makers should pay more attention to the economic dimension of the project. Therefore, with coherent planning and continuous monitoring of the implementation of the mangrove social forestry projects, it is possible to provide a platform for improving the economic situation and, as a result, a desire for greater participation of local communities.
Conclusion: According to the results of the research, mangrove social forestry, with its emphasis on sociality, takes on its true meaning when local people actively take steps towards sustainable development. Achieving sustainable development is possible by moving through the economic channel and focusing on the economy of the projects.
Keywords
Environmental knowledge
Local communities
Participatory project
Perceived ecological value
Subjects
Ahmadi, F., Heydari, Gh., Zamani, O., & Jafarian-Jelodar, Z. (2021). Analysis of network social capital among rangeland users with different levels of participation (case study: rangelands of Dehgolan County, Kurdistan Province). Iranian Rangeland and Desert Research, 28(4), 804-817. https://doi.org/10.22092/ijrdr.2021.125644. (In Persian)
Appelstrand, M. (2002). Participation and societal values: the challenge for lawmakers and policy practitioners. Forest Policy and Economics, 4(4), 281–29 .https://doi.org/10.1016/S1389-9341(02)00070-9
Arabion, A. (2002). Analysis, recognition and application of indigenous knowledge of villagers in livestock and rangeland management. Iranian Rangeland and Desert Research, 9(3), 1099-1128. (In Persian)
Ashtari, A., Sayebani, M., & Alsafa, B. (2015). Statistical study of factors in the development of sea travel in the Qeshm Free Zone. 17th Qeshm Free Zone Conference, 1-13. (In Persian)
Balest, J., Hrib, M., Dobsinska, Z., & Paletto, A. (2016). Analysis of the effective stakeholders' involvement in the development of National Forest Programmes in Europe. International Forestry Review, 18(1), 13–28. DOI: 10.1505/146554816818206122
Benshams, A., Gandomkar, A., Ataee, H., & Saberi, H. (2020). Studying the trend of temperature changes and climate of tourism comfort of Qeshm and Kish islands in the era of global warming. Quarterly Journal of Geography, 10(3), 741-765. (In Persian)
Borden, R.J., & Schettino, A.P. (1979). Determinants of environmentally responsible behavior. The Journal of Environmental Education, 10(4), 35-39.‏ https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.1979.9941906
Brunk, C.G. (2006). Public knowledge, public trust: understanding the ‘knowledge deficit’. Public Health Genomics, 9(3), 178-183.‏ DOI: 10.1159/000092654
Carrillo-Maldonado, P., Arias, K., Zanoni, W., & Cruz, Z. (2024). Local socioeconomic impacts of large-scale mining projects in Ecuador: The case of Fruta del Norte. Resources Policy, 89, 104625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.104625
Eskandari-Shahraki, A., Yarali, N., Mahmidi, B., & Khalilmoghadam, B. (2023). Identifying factors affecting the implementation of forestry projects in Zagros with a futures research approach (Case study: Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province). Iranian Forest and Poplar Research, 31(4), 309-355. 10.22092/IJFPR.2023.363630.2119. (In Persian)
Harrinkari, T., Katila, P., & Karppinen, H. (2016). Stakeholder coalitions in forest politics: revision of Finnish Forest Act. Forest Policy and Economics, 67, 30–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2016.02.006
Häyrinen, L., Kaseva, J., & Pouta, E. (2025). Finnish forest owners' intentions to participate in cooperative forest management. Forest Policy and Economics, 172, 103420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103420
Johansson, J. (2016). Participation and deliberation in Swedish forest governance: the process of initiating a National Forest Program. Forest Policy and Economics, 70, 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2016.06.001
Kaiser, F.G., Wölfing, S., & Fuhrer, U. (1999). Environmental attitude and ecological behaviour. Journal of environmental psychology, 19(1), 1-19.‏ ‏ https://doi.org/10.1006/jevp.1998.0107
Kangas, A., Saarinen, N., Saarikoski, H., Leskinen, L.A., Hujala, T., & Tikkanen, J. (2010). Stakeholder perspectives about proper participation for regional forest programmes in Finland. Forest Policy and Economics,12(3), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2009.10.006
Khalili, V., Mahmodi, J., Gholami, Sh., & Nazari, M. (2014). Factors affecting the level of user participation in the implementation of rangeland management plans (case study of summer pastures in the Vaz River basin). Iranian Journal of Natural Ecosystems, 5(2), 105-113. (In Persian)
Lee, E.J. (2016). How perceived cognitive needs fulfillment affect consumer attitudes toward the customized product: The moderating role of consumer knowledge. Computers in Human Behavior, 64, 152-162.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.06.017
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. (2005). Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Biodiversity Synthesis. Washington, DC: World Resources Institute.
Millner, N., Peñagaricano, I., Fernandez, M., & Snook, L.K. (2020). The politics of participation: negotiating relationships through community forestry in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala. World Development, 127, 104743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104743
Moayeri, M.H., Abedisarvestani, A., Shahraki, M., & Mastori, A. (2021). Revealing social forestry approaches and its role in the management of forestry projects in Golestan Province. Journal of Wood and Paper Science and Technology, 28(4), 1-24. 10.22069/JWFST.2022.19546.1944. (In Persian)
Mofidi-Chalan, M., Jafaree, M., Tavili, A., & Alijanpour, A. (2016). The effect of three rangeland improvement methods on the vegetation characteristics of Imam Kandi rangelands in Urmia. Watershed Management Research, 29(13), 30-39. 10.22092/WMEJ.2017.115316. (In Persian)
Mozafari-Sahnesaraee, S.T., Mohamadi-Limaee, S., Boniad, A.E., & Mirzaee, M. (2024). Forest resource management strategies with a participatory approach and a combined SWOT-AHP model (Case study: Qazvin province, Iran). Iranian Forest Journal, 16(3), 387-403. doi: 10.22034/ijf.2024.423288.1949. (In Persian)
Papzan, A., & Afsharzadeh, N. (2010). Indigenous mechanisms of rangeland management among nomadic Kalhor tribes. Iranian Rangeland and Desert Research, 17(3), 476-488. (In Persian)
Ponmani, M., Padmavathy, P., Manimekalai, D., Shalini, R., Ravikumar, T., Hariharan, G., & Manickavasagam, S. (2024). Vulnerability of mangrove ecosystems to anthropogenic marine litter along the southeast coast of India. Science of The Total Environment, 956, 177224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177224
Rezaee, S.K., & Moayeri, M.H. (2013). A review of the principles of social and participatory forestry. The First National Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources, 59-68. (In Persian)
Salehi, S., & Karimzadeh, S. (2011). Investigating the relationship between environmental knowledge and environmental behaviors. Cultural and Communication Studies, 7(24), 159-173. (In Persian)
Salmani, A., Poursaeed, A., Bayramzade, V., & Eshraghi-Samani, R. (2021). Criteria and indicators of sustainable management of forests in the Zagros vegetation zone from the perspective of forest specialists and experts. Iranian Forest Journal, 13(1), 43-58. doi: 10.22034/ijf.2021.132136. (In Persian)
Sattayapanich, T., Janmaimool, P., & Chontanawat, J. (2022). Factors affecting community participation in environmental corporate social responsibility projects: evidence from mangrove forest management project. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 8(4), 209.‏ https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8040209
Schahn, J., & Holzer, E. (1990). Studies of individual environmental concern: The role of knowledge, gender, and background variables. Environment and behavior, 22 (6), 767-786. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1177/0013916590226003
Sharifpour, F., & Mahmoudi, B. (2016). The position and importance of social forestry in the management of the country's forests. The fourth national conference of student scientific associations in the fields of agriculture, natural resources and environment, 19-29. (In Persian)
Spalding, M. (2010). World atlas of mangroves. Routledge, 336 P.
Suhardi, R.M., Rahardi, W., Shih, H.C., Mantiquilla, J.A., Wu, Y.H., Shiao, M.S., & Chiang, Y.C. (2024). A Review of the Mangrove Ecosystem in Indonesia: Biodiversity, Conservation, and Challenges in Sustainable Management. Ecological Genetics and Genomics, 32, 100282.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egg.2024.100282
Swinea, S.H., Hughes, A.R., Osland, M.J., Shepard, C.C., Thorne, K.B., Alemu, J.B., Bardou, R., & Scyphers, S.B. (2025). Marshes to mangroves: Residential surveys reveal perceived wetland trade-offs for ecosystem services. Landscape and Urban Planning, 253, 105203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2024.105203
Teder, M., & Kaimre, P. (2018). The participation of stakeholders in the policy processes and their satisfaction with results: A case of Estonian forestry policy. Forest Policy and Economics, 89, 54-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2017.05.007
Thoker, I.A., Bhat, M.S., Shah, S.A., Lone, F.A., & Jeelani, P. (2024). An appraisal of people's participation in the joint forest management programme in the Kashmir Himalayas. Forest Policy and Economics, 166, 103265.‏ DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103265
Willis-Norton, E., Mangin, T., Schroeder, D.M., Cabral, R.B., & Gaines, S.D. (2024). A synthesis of socioeconomic and sociocultural indicators for assessing the impacts of offshore renewable energy on fishery participants and fishing communities. Marine Policy, 161, 106013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106013
Winkel, G., & Sotirov, M. (2011). An obituary for national forest programmes? Analyzing and learning from the strategic use of “new modes of governance” in Germany and Bulgaria. Forest Policy and Economics, 13(2), 143–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2010.06.005
Zhang, Y., Pan, L., Liu, Y., Tao, Y., Su, Z., Huang, Q., Wei, J., Wu, E., Fan, H., & Qiu, G. (2024). Determining the payment for ecosystem services of mangrove forests: The approach combining ecosystem services and social-economic level and application in Shankou National Nature Reserve, Guangxi, China. Global Ecology and Conservation, 54, e03146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03146
Zhu, M. (2023). The Effect of Political Participation of Chinese Citizens on Government Satisfaction: Based on Modified Causal Forest. Procedia Computer Science, 221, 1044-1051.‏ https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2023.08.086

  • Receive Date 15 January 2025
  • Revise Date 08 April 2025
  • Accept Date 07 May 2025