Perceptions and practices of rural council participatory forest governance : Closed co-management in Chehel-Chay, Iran

Due to the shortcomings of hierarchical natural resource governance, theorists have been increasing focus on the decentralization of power to local organizations. Although decentralization is associated with real participation, what level of participation do locals prefer in forest governance? Given the lack of research on forest governance in the Middle East, this study focused on rural councils in Iran as examples of local organizations with regulatory authority to govern forests and other natural resources. The perception of local council members about forest governance in Chehel-Chay Watershed Region in northern Iran was analysed. Despite the appropriate collaborative structure of rural councils and a favourable attitude of council members towards public participation, there was not a strong tendency for rural councils to engage in participation concerning local forest governance. Council members expressed a preference for closed co-management arrangements in which governmental and non-governmental actors work together to govern forests. To move away from the dominant top-down, centralized mode of forest governance, enabling actions combined with supportive factors, such as involving rural councils in forest governance and delegating authority for local legislation, are recommended as a step towards more effective decentralization which enhances public participation in the sustainable management of natural resources. •Rural councils in Iran exemplify current decentralization of natural resource governance.•Chehel-Chay Watershed Region in northern Iran is a region rich in forest, pasture and agriculture, illustrates possible decentralization at local level.•Despite a collaborative structure and favourable attitudes towards public participation, councils operate top-down, not engaging the public.•Council members prefer closed co-management where government and non-government actors work together.•Enabling actions are recommended for effective decentralization which enhances public participation in sustainable natural resource governance.