Determinant factors of adoption of exiting animals from forest and reintegration forest dwellers: A case of Nekachub area of Mazandaran province

Forests have been threatened by exceed domestic animals in forests. Some plans like the plan of exiting animals from forest and reintegration forest dwellers are implemented to reduce pressure on the forests of northern Iran. But the question can be proposed of how the acceptance of the project among forest dwellers is and what factors affect it. The aim of this research was to examine the relationships between demographic characteristics, socio-economic and psychological factors of forest dwellers and accepting the plan of exiting animals from forests and reintegration of forest dwellers. Using descriptive research and survey technique, 100 forest dwellers were studied randomly in Nekachub forestry plan area of Mazandaran province. Data was collected through questionnaire which its validity and reliability were confirmed by a pilot study. Results of comparing two groups of adopters and non-adopters of the plan revealed that adopters group has less crowded households, less cattle and calves, less income from husbandry, less garden, more income from agriculture and non-husbandry sources, more trip to nearest town each month, more participation in training and extension classes about exiting animals from forests and reintegration forest dwellers. Logistic regression analysis showed that five demographic factors, i.e the number of loans for livestock, the number of trip to nearest town each month, consultation of government departments with forest duelers before the implementation of the plan, respondent’s attitude toward risk and the degree of livelihood vulnerability of the plan are the main effective and predictive factors for the adoption of exiting animals from forests and reintegration forest dwellers plan.