University of Tehran Journal of Natural Environment 2008-7764 79 1 2026 06 10 Factors affecting the intensity of human-brown bear conflict in northern Zagros, Iran Factors affecting the intensity of human-brown bear conflict in northern Zagros, Iran 149 167 106394 10.22059/jne.2026.410345.2887 FA Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran. 0000-0003-2968-906X Alireza Mohammadi Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft, Jiroft, Iran. 0000-0003-3701-6455 Journal Article 2026 01 31 Human-large carnivore conflict, particularly involving the brown bear (Ursus arctos), represents a complex conservation challenge that seriously threatens both species survival and rural livelihoods in the Northern Zagros. Utilizing a social network analysis approach, this study systematically examined the causal-relational structure of conflict drivers and participatory management strategies based on the perspectives of 183 local stakeholders in Kermanshah Province. Network analysis revealed that "bear provocation" and "sudden encounters" function as central nodes with the highest degree and betweenness centrality, playing a pivotal role in escalating conflicts. Drought, habitat destruction, and insufficient local knowledge were identified as underlying factors that reinforce the conflict network. From the local community's viewpoint, "compensation payment" and "education" emerged as the strategies with the greatest centrality and influence within the conflict mitigation network, whereas punitive measures such as lethal removal garnered the least acceptance. These findings underscore the necessity for designing an integrated management model based on three pillars: "community empowerment," "institutionalizing a compensation system," and "implementing non-lethal preventive measures. Integrating local and scientific knowledge through participatory programs can not only mitigate conflicts but also foster sustainable coexistence and effective conservation of this umbrella species in the ecosystems of the Northern Zagros. Human-large carnivore conflict, particularly involving the brown bear (Ursus arctos), represents a complex conservation challenge that seriously threatens both species survival and rural livelihoods in the Northern Zagros. Utilizing a social network analysis approach, this study systematically examined the causal-relational structure of conflict drivers and participatory management strategies based on the perspectives of 183 local stakeholders in Kermanshah Province. Network analysis revealed that "bear provocation" and "sudden encounters" function as central nodes with the highest degree and betweenness centrality, playing a pivotal role in escalating conflicts. Drought, habitat destruction, and insufficient local knowledge were identified as underlying factors that reinforce the conflict network. From the local community's viewpoint, "compensation payment" and "education" emerged as the strategies with the greatest centrality and influence within the conflict mitigation network, whereas punitive measures such as lethal removal garnered the least acceptance. These findings underscore the necessity for designing an integrated management model based on three pillars: "community empowerment," "institutionalizing a compensation system," and "implementing non-lethal preventive measures. Integrating local and scientific knowledge through participatory programs can not only mitigate conflicts but also foster sustainable coexistence and effective conservation of this umbrella species in the ecosystems of the Northern Zagros. https://jne.ut.ac.ir/article_106394_da03c56706e8bd70decfb15fff7d5d3f.pdf