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Quantitative and financial evaluation of non-timber forest products (case study: Zemkan basin forests, West of Iran)

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Abstract

Although Zagros forests in western Iran lack industrial timber value due to the severe climate and socioeconomics problems, non-timber products are of great value and importance due to their high economic potential and also their potential to improve the welfare of forest-dwelling and forest-fringe villagers. This study was done in the forests of the Zemkan basin, an important part of central Zagros forests, Iran, to recognize the non-timber forest products (NTFPS), investigate their potential economic value and role in people’s livelihood. Data, collected using forest cruising, participatory observations, interviews with indigenous and local persons and experts, identified wild pistachio resin, wild pistachio fruit, oak fruit and oak syrup (Shokeh manna) among the non-timber products in this basin with total potential harvestable NTFPs of 77.16, 771.602, 13248.68, and 1324.868 tons per year, respectively. The economic rent from NTFPs is 33 US$/ha/year and its total expected values with consideration of real interest rate when the exploiter invests the capital in the bank (6.4 %) and when money is borrowed from the bank to execute the incorporated projects (8.4 %) are $516/ha and $393/ha, respectively. Furthermore, families’ economic share from potential profit of NTFPs is annually $601 per household. In addition wild pistachio resin has the highest share of the total potential profit of NTFPs and its equal to 51 % of the total of potential profit of NTFPs. Therefore, it is suggested that decisions be made to increase the infrastructure and strengthen the local selling market to enhance the cash income from NTFPs. Forest participatory management practices are suggested to organize and improve traditional use of the forests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

    Sohrab Moradi

  2. University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Iran

    Sohrab Moradi

  3. Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Iran

    Soleiman Mohammadi Limaei

  4. Department of Forest Economics, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umea, Sweden

    Peter Lohmander

  5. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Iran

    Mehrdad Khanmohammadi

Authors
  1. Sohrab Moradi
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  2. Soleiman Mohammadi Limaei
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  3. Peter Lohmander
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  4. Mehrdad Khanmohammadi
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Correspondence to Sohrab Moradi.

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Project Funding: This research was supported by research funds of Guilan University.

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Corresponding editor: Zhu Hong

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Moradi, S., Limaei, S.M., Lohmander, P. et al. Quantitative and financial evaluation of non-timber forest products (case study: Zemkan basin forests, West of Iran). J. For. Res. 28, 371–379 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-016-0313-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-016-0313-3

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