Practical Strategies for the Economic Development of Rural Communities on the Edge of Hyrcanian Forests

• Published in: راهبردهای کارآفرینی در کشاورزی Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 92 - 107
• Main Authors: Hamid Amirnejad, Sareh Hosseini, S. Mohsen Hosseini, Maryam Asadpour Kordi, Mahsa Taslimi, Yadollah Bostan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Persian
• Published: Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University 01.07.2024
• Subjects: hyrcanian forests; qspm; strategy; sustainable development; swot
• ISSN: 2538-3426; 2676-4563

Extended Abstract Background: Forests are considered the main pillars of sustainable development in any country. They play an important role in the socioeconomic development of regions by producing goods and delivering services directly and indirectly. They play a vital role in ensuring the well-being of rural and forest-dwelling communities and rural development. In recent decades, non-timber forest products have been recognized as one of the important components in sustainable forest management and poverty reduction of local and rural communities. Therefore, the need for a deeper understanding of rural livelihood and its complexity to ensure rural development is one of the factors that increases the motivation to study the role and importance of forest resource products in the rural economy. In today's era, therefore, entrepreneurship has created new opportunities for people who are talented and interested in non-wood forest products to improve their income, increase their assets and capital, and grow the standards of living in rural communities in the new economy in small and medium businesses. The development of entrepreneurship in rural areas is one of the major strategies of rural development, which can play a significant role in the sustainable development of villages. The development of rural entrepreneurship with non-wood forest products has a potential to help diversify the sources of income and rural employment, which provides suitable opportunities to reduce livelihood risks and sustainability in rural areas. Therefore, studies on the role of forest ecosystem services and the accompanied development of rural entrepreneurship in the economy of rural communities on the edge of the forest are necessary to better understand the benefits of the forest economy. Methods: This research aimed to identify and prioritize the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the Hyrcanian forests in the economic promotion of rural communities on the edge of the forest and to provide practical solutions in this field by using survey methods, field studies, and completing questionnaires. The statistical population of the research consisted of specialists and experts of Hyrcanian forests in the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization at the provincial and regional levels of the Hyrcanian forests. The questionnaire data were analyzed using SWARA and SWOT techniques. The Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) was then used to prioritize strategies and solutions for the economic promotion of rural communities on the edge of the forest. Results: The results of the SWOT model identified 11 strengths, 10 weaknesses, 10 opportunities, and 11 threats for the economic improvement of the rural communities on the edge of the Hyrcanian forests. Based on the results, the major strengths and weaknesses of the Hyrcanian forests in the economic promotion of rural communities on the edge of the forest were studied according to the weight score obtained in the evaluation matrix of internal factors. These include increasing the diversity of job opportunities and excessive exploitation and destruction of forest resources due to the high dependence of rural communities on the forest ecosystem. Among the opportunities, the positive consequences of creating employment for rural communities with the development of activities related to the forest and increasing the price of assets (land, buildings, etc.) due to having a forest view were given the most weight among the other factors. A major threat to the role of the Hyrcanian forests in the economic promotion of rural communities on the edge of the forest is the consequences of destruction, changes in the use of forest lands, and the entry of profit-seeking people into forest areas (illegal harvesting of forest timber or smuggling wood, mushrooms, medicinal plants., etc.), which were given the utmost weight among the other threats. Conclusion: According to the scores calculated in the strategic model, the strategies adopted in the study area are close to "competitive" strategies. Therefore, the relevant authorities should try to take steps toward these strategies and make maximum use of its external opportunities by using the strengths of the Hyrcanian forests in the economic promotion of the rural communities on the edge of the forest. The results of the implementation of the QSPM matrix indicated that the strategies of supporting timber and beekeeping projects through subsidy policies, providing facilities and low-interest loans, efforts to reduce deprivations and increase the socioeconomic development of villages on the edge of the forest, introducing the tourist attractions of the Hyrcanian forests, developing nature tourism, rural ecotourism in different ways, promoting the environmental awareness and culture of communities, and the development of NGOs and nature-loving institutions obtained the most points and were assigned the first to fourth priorities among the other strategies. Therefore, the research findings show that entrepreneurship through non-timber forest products and tourism creates new opportunities for talented and interested people to improve their income, increase their assets and capital, and improve the standards of living in rural communities to grow small and medium businesses in the new economy. Therefore, the results of the research indicate that entrepreneurship through non-timber forest products and tourism creates new opportunities for talented and interested people to improve their income, increase their property and capital, and grow the standards of living in rural communities in the new economy in small and medium businesses. Furthermore, rural entrepreneurship and the development of small businesses using non-timber forest products, tourist attractions, nature tourism, and ecotourism in the villages on the edge of the Hyrcanian forests should be regarded as suitable solutions for empowerment and capacity building in the target villages to change the current life pattern, reduce the urban-rural gap, create socioeconomic equality, and economic development and promotion of rural communities on the edge of the forests.