Analysis of Forest Villagers-Forestry Institutions Intercourses For Increasing Efficiency of The Forest Protection: The Case of Artvin Regional Forest Directorate

This study aims increasing the efficiency of forest resources management, and particularly the forest protection. The study determined the perceptions of forest villagers, who are the foremost stakeholders in forestry, on forestry and forestry institutions. The paper also includes the conflicts between forest villagers and forest institutions, and explores the forest practices issues through villagers' eyes. Lastly, the paper covers the perspectives of forest villagers on forest protection activities of state institutions and how they possibly contribute the protection of forests. Total 387 surveys carried out in 32 forest villages. Results show that forest villagers are not willing to contract a liability about having joint ownership, management, utilization and protection of the forest. Forestry institutions should employ participatory approaches including duty and authority sharing in all forestry projects and activities especially in forest protection, instead of giving one-sided accountability or authority for forest villagers.