Food security and desire for forestry land use change among rural households of Golestan province, Iran | ||
| تحقیقات جنگل و صنوبر ایران | ||
| Article 7, Volume 32, Issue 4 - Serial Number 98, March 2025, Pages 390-405 PDF (314.26 K) | ||
| Document Type: Research article | ||
| DOI: 10.22092/ijfpr.2024.365902.2165 | ||
| Authors | ||
| M.R. Mahboobi* 1; A. Badahang Gale-Bache2 | ||
| 1Corresponding author, Associate Prof., Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agricultural Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran | ||
| 2Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Communication, Faculty of Agriculture, Zanjan University, Zanjan, Iran | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background and objectives: In underdeveloped countries, one measure to ensure food security involves exploiting natural resources, often leading to their destruction. Forests serve as a direct source of food and fuel and provide income, while ecosystem services enhance families' capacity to cope with food insecurity. Food insecurity refers to limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate food or the inability to obtain food in socially acceptable ways. There is a close relationship between villagers' food security and their willingness to change forest land use, yet few studies have explored these issues and their interconnection. This research aimed to understand the food security situation of rural households living in forest edge areas and their desire to change forest land use in Golestan Province, Iran. Methodology: This descriptive survey research was conducted in 2023 in villages with the highest rates of forest land destruction and use change in Golestan Province. The statistical population consisted of 350 household heads living in five forest-edge villages, and 183 individuals were selected as the research sample using the Krejcie and Morgan table and proportionate stratified sampling method. Data collection was done via a questionnaire, whose content and appearance validity were confirmed by extension specialists and experts from the General Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Golestan Province. The questionnaire's validity was determined using Cronbach's alpha method, with coefficients of 0.934 and 0.775 for different parts. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 19 software. Results: The research findings showed that over 80% of households faced various levels of food insecurity, and more than half of the respondents (55.7%) had a strong or very strong desire to change forest land use. Correlation tests revealed a negative and significant relationship between respondents' age, village residency history, and distance from their residence to the city with their desire to change forest land use. Conversely, there was a positive and significant relationship between total family income and respondents' willingness to change forest land use. Regression analysis indicated that age, total monthly household income, village residency history, and distance from the city influenced the willingness to change forest land use. Age had the most negative effect, while income had the most positive effect. Conclusion: The results showed no significant relationship between food security and respondents' willingness to change forest land use. However, increasing income was a variable influencing this willingness. To reduce this desire, it is suggested that, in addition to educating villagers about the importance of forests and their protection, livelihood improvement programs be implemented to shift their income reliance from natural resources to alternative sources. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Agriculture; food insecurity; forest; land use change; natural resources | ||
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