Dimensions and themes of applying forestry extension in the forest resources management process in Iran
Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Forest Ssciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Sciences, Shahrekord University, Iran.
10.22059/jne.2025.399455.2829
Abstract
Forestry extension is one of the overlooked domains within Iran's Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization, its affiliated provincial departments, and especially its educational and research centers. This neglect highlights the marginalized role of extension in forest management across the country. The aim of this study is to identify the influential components of forestry extension in the forest management process. Using a qualitative research approach, thematic analysis and systematic literature review were employed to extract and categorize the dimensions and themes related to forestry extension. The results demonstrated that the application of forestry extension can be classified into three dimensions: extension foundations, extension policymaking, and extension planning. In the extension foundations dimension, two main themes—extension agents and target communities—emerged, containing 61 subthemes. In the extension policymaking dimension, four main themes were identified: contextual factors, institutional frameworks, guiding principles, and extension goals, consisting of 250 subthemes. The extension planning dimension included four main themes: extension programs, tools, methods, and evaluation and monitoring, with 152 subthemes. Among these, extension policymaking proved to be the central and strategic axis for implementing the extension process, as its themes elucidate those in the planning dimension and determine the requirements for operationalizing the extension foundations.
Keywords
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