Study of Forest Road Engineering and Sustainable Development of Forest Margin Villages in Northern Forest of Iran

Roads are one of the important factors for optimum forest product operations and services, especially their roles in the development of forest villages and margins. This study was completed in the Seri Dallak khile (includes five villages) forest region that is located in the northern forest of Iran. First, the forestry project plan was evaluated over the three decades beginning in 1986 in terms of design and construction of forest roads and projected programs for future roads design were developed. Then, relevant data, statistical resources, and village objectives were evaluated in terms of population, housing development and service benefits over the same decades. The study evaluated 18 village development indices in relation to increasing forest road density during three decades for the villages of Arzefon, Dallak khile, Darvar, North of Pahneh kolla, South of Pahneh Kolla forest. The non-parametric test included the standard grade of Z (development index from the sum of Zij in each village which have benefited from these services, first grad and for villages that were without services. Results showed that as the total length of built roads at the end of 1986, 1996 and 2006 increased village access to communication, facilities and services also increased, along with development conditions.