Analysis of factors affecting forest health based on DEMATEL-ANP (DANP) approach in Masouleh watershed, Guilan province

 Forest health indicators encompass a wide range of physical environmental indicators, including climatic and ecological measurements, as well as records on human actions and management practices in forest ecosystems. This study aims to investigate the relationship among the forest health indices in the mixed-beech forest type, including tree diversity, crown condition, stem condition, deadwood, and regeneration in the forest landscape in the Masouleh watershed, Guilan province.

 In this study, the relationship among indices of forest health in the study area was investigated using an integrated approach of DEMATEL-ANP (DANP). Data collection was conducted through two researcher-made questionnaires, whose validity and reliability were examined through content validity and the retest method, respectively. Finally, the most important input indicators, based on experts’ views, were ranked by DEMATEL and output indicators by ANP. A sample of 12 experts was used in this study.

 The results of DEMATEL indicate the importance of the regeneration index in the forest health status in the study area. This index (regeneration) was recognized with the highest influence ratio among others. In addition, two indicators, tree diversity and deadwood, had a high influence ratio among other investigated indices. Also, tree diversity and crown condition indices were the most influential ones. Based on the ranking results of criteria in ANP, the tree diversity criterion has a more important effect on forest health compared to other criteria. In addition, healthy seedling, crown dieback, and standing deadwood are among the most important sub-criteria compared to other sub-criteria in the study area.

 These results can play a significant role in increasing awareness about the factors affecting the health of forests and the causes of unhealthy forests. They can also assist policymakers in identifying appropriate measures to maintain and improve forest health, thereby increasing the sustainability of forest ecosystems.