Understanding the Contribution of Non-timber Forest Products to the Livelihoods of Forest Dwellers in the Northern Zagros in Iran

The Role of Non-Timber Forest Products in Creating Incentives for Forest Conservation: A Case Study of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia

“…Extraction of non-timber forest products for both subsistence and trade remains common and widespread today because it is highly significant to the rural and national economies in provision of food, material, construction, energy, cash income, employment, and other benefits [4][5][6]. Tens of thousands of non-timber forest products around the world support local livelihoods and economies [7].…”

Unveiling rural energy pattern determinants: insights from forest-dwelling rural households in the Zagros Mountains, Iran

“…As heating represents the main energy consumer in the area (Bazgir et al, 2015), LPG has not been able to significantly reduce firewood consumption. According to the studies, several factors influence households' choice of energy sources, including cost, availability, convenience, and cleanliness (Kowsari and Zerriffi, 2011;Li et al, 2016). The respondents in our study indicated that energy cost is the primary factor influencing their fuel selection.…”

“…The Zagros forests are home to approximately 10% of Iran's population, and many residents depend on these forests for their livelihoods (Salehi et al, 2010). Over the years, the forests have been utilized for various purposes, including livestock breeding, grazing, the collection of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and agriculture (Soltani et al, 2011;Henareh Khalyani et al, 2013;Khosravi et al, 2017). However, the Zagros forests have suffered from degradation, and their management falls under the responsibility of the government's natural resources and watershed organization (Khalyani et al, 2014).…”

“…Research has shown that households living in the Zagros forests adopt different livelihood strategies. The relative income derived from forest products varies depending on the household's income level and the geographical location of the forests (Soltani et al, 2011;Khosravi et al, 2014). One prevalent degrading factor in the area is the use and trade of fuelwood as an energy source.…”

“…A significant portion of rural energy consumption is derived from the use of firewood obtained from forest areas. While several studies have examined the amount of fuelwood consumption and its contribution to rural income, there is a limited understanding of the factors influencing rural household energy patterns in the Zagros forests (Soltani et al, 2011;Sagheb Talebi et al, 2014;Khosravi et al, 2017). Although providing rural households with affordable alternative energy sources is crucial in developing countries (Song et al, 2018), there are various determinants that can influence the 1 The term "decline" describes a condition in which a number of damaging agents interact with one another to weaken trees and bring about their deterioration, sometimes resulting in premature death (Goodarzi et al, 2019).…”