Investigating the type and amount of utilization of forest resources by rural people in marginal villages (Case study: Hezarjerib region- Mazindaran province)

The main object of this research was to distinguish the types and amount of utilizations of the wood and non-wood forest products in three villages including Vezvar, Evard and Aghooz-darreh in the Hezarjerib, Behshahr, Mazindaran province. In this research, statistical society was the head of families of rural people in the studied villages. To collect data, 150 questionnaires were filled out and completed by asking questions from sample people directly. The reliability of questionnaires was obtained with the opinions of experts and examined by using α Cronbach coefficient (0.63). The results showed that the total utilization of forest resources was in an average amount according to people’s answers. The results of multivariate regression indicated that local people living in the studied villages are using the forest wood products for constructions and also as fire woods (%76.6). Rural societies are also harvesting a considerable amount of non-wood forest products as food materials, feeding animals and medicine consumptions. On the basis of the research findings, some suggestions were presented to improve economic situation of the region and also to promote the correct harvesting of forest products toward sustaining natural resources. The most important one is to change life style of rural people in the region.