Presentation of management solutions for firefighting, using the decision support system at Northern Zagros forests (Case study: Marivan forests)

Abstract

Intentional and unintentional fire occurrences are known as main threat factors of Zagros forests which destructed wide areas of these forests in recent years. Investigating and offering management solutions in this respect can play a controller role in tackling this crisis. The aim of the study was to identify and evaluate the most important factors influencing forest firefighting techniques in Marivan forests, using SWOT technique. Due to variation of fire control management solutions, they were classified into two categories, risk and crisis management. Identification and specification of the affecting criteria on fire control was employed, using an open answer-sheet method, based on stockholder analysis. Then the obtained results of SWOT technique were quantified by AHP approach. Results showed that employment generation and income, on-time accessibility and staff efficiency (overall weight of 0.106, 0.069 and 0.068, respectively) were identified as the most important factors affecting crisis management solutions. Furthermore, prevention of fire expanse in forest, action speed and possibility of job generation (overall weight of 0.123, 0.120 and 0.118, respectively) were identified as the most important solutions for risk management. It is recommended to: 1- reconstruct and improve the local societies morale to their surrounding environment, 2- develop the villagers culture, 3- develop national decision for natural resources conservation and finally 4- avoid absolute governmental management and administration for appropriate and scientific control of forest fire.

Keywords

• forest fire
• SWOT
• Analytical Hierarchical Process
• risk and crisis management
• questionnaire