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Abstract:The main purpose of this study was to investigate the links between forest dwellers' participation in reforestation and development of forest areas in west Mazandaran of Iran and a set of socio-economic variables. The statistical population includes all forest dwellers living in villages, which locate in the west Mazandaran in Iran and had been covered by local forestry cooperative. A sample of 110 forest dwellers were selected by the use of proportional random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect data. For determining the validity of questionnaire, the content validity was used. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure reliability of the index measuring level of participation in reforestation and development of forest areas that its extent was 0.86 and showed that mentioned variable had high reliability. The data were analyzed by the use of descriptive and inferential statistics such as extent of mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The findings revealed that age, level of literacy, level of participation in extension-education courses, using level of communication channels and information resources, level of forest dependency, social participation, social solidarity, economic and social motivations are positively and significantly (p<0.01) correlated with level of forest dwellers' participation in reforestation and development of forest areas. Household size is positively and significantly (p<0.05) correlated with level of forest dwellers' participation in reforestation and development of forest areas. The result of multiple regression showed that variables of level of participation in extension-education courses, age, household size, level of economic motivation, social solidarity and level of literacy could explain 51.4% of the variation in the level of forest dwellers' participation in reforestation and development of forest areas.

Abstract:The main purpose of this study was to analyze factors influencing motivation of villagers' participation in activities of social forestry. The statistical population includes all villagers living in villages, which locate in the west Mazandaran of Iran and had been covered by local forestry cooperative. A sample of 110 villagers were selected by the use of proportional random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect data. For determining the validity of the questionnaire, the content validity was used. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure reliability of index measuring level of motivation of villagers' participation in activities of social forestry that its extent was 0.84 and showed that mentioned variable had high reliability. The data were analyzed by the use of descriptive and inferential statistics such as extent of mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The findings revealed that level of literacy, using level of mass communication media, level of participation in extension-education courses, social interaction and attitude toward participatory activities positively and significantly (p<0.01) correlated with the level of motivation of villagers' participation in activities of social forestry. The result of multiple regression showed that variables consisting: attitude toward participatory activities, using level of mass communication media, level of literacy and social interaction could explain 39.7% of the variation in the level of motivation of villagers' participation in activities of social forestry.

Abstract:The purpose of this study was to analyze factors influencing rural people's participation in National Action Plan for Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources (NAP-SMLWR) in Hable-Rud Basin. This study is a case study of Arou village in northern Hable-Rud basin. The statistical population includes head of households who dwelling in Arou village and participate in this project. Available participants were selected that the number of individuals has been 60. The main instrument of the survey was questionnaire that its validity was established by an experts' panel consisting of specialists in natural resources extension. Instrument reliability was established by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient for measuring level of rural people's participation in NAP-SMLWR, which its extent was 0.78. The findings of research showed that household size, times of traveling to town, level of participation in previous projects, awareness of plan goals, awareness of degradation impacts of natural resources, need to social solidarity, contact with technical experts and visit of sample projects are positively and significantly (p<0.01) correlated with level of rural people's participation in SMLWR. Level of participation in extension-education classes and level of contact with extension agents are positively and significantly (p<0.05) correlated with level of rural people's participation in NAP-SMLWR. The result of multiple regression indicated that variables of household size, level of contact with technical experts, times of traveling to town and level of awareness of plan goals could explain 50.3% of the variation in the level of rural people's participation in NAP-SMLWR.