Investigating the local utilization of forest in north Zagros (Case study: Baneh Region)

DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) is an analytical process, which is based on cause and effect relationship for making policy and management programing. The aim of the present study is to investigation of the local utilization of northern Zagros forests using DPSIR framework. For this purpose, three villages including Gandoman, Mirhesam, and Kokh-Mamo around Baneh city, west of Kurdistan province, were selected. Forest, Agrosilviculture, Silvopastoral and Agrosilvopastoral management were the main types of land use in the region which mapped according to satellite data, digital maps and GPS data collected from the field. The classified maps of slope and aspect were extracted of 1:25000 digital maps. In addition, DPSIR was applied to investigate the current state of the region and its management responses. The results showed that Agrosilviculture (44% of forested area) and Pollarding (42.3% of forested area) were more developed than other local utilization systems. These land use types are main drivers shaping local landscape and ecosystems features i.e. have made the current state of the region. Forest administration, NGOs and other organizations presented various management responses including banning the pollarding in recent years, to control deforestation in order to develop agriculture land, to plan and implement Tuba and agroforestry projects, to restrict the hunting of rare wild species, organizing and management of pollarding, introduce of alternative sources of revenue to local people, to extend the use of renewable energy (solar water heater), to develop LP gas project and issuing the special certificate allowing small trades from Iraqi borders. Analyzing consequences of the responses showed that in most cases, driving forces (key factors) have been neglected. Thus along with the above mentioned responses we suggested allocation of encourageous and supportive policies in order to proper performance of local forest management practices and holding workshops to improve local communities’ awareness of their surrounding environment as well as techniques to modify traditional forestry.