Opinions of forest engineers on the progress and challenges in the application of sustainable forest management criteria and indicators: The case of the West Mediterranean Regon

Sustainable forest management is a strategy that aims to use natural resources in a balanced way and maintain ecological balance. In this context, forest engineers play an important role in the effective implementation of criteria and indicators. Applying sustainable forest management criteria and indicators in order to protect forest ecosystems, increase social welfare and ensure economic sustainability has positive effects. The aim of this study is to determine engineer opinions regarding the applicability of sustainable forest management criteria and indicators and the difficulties encountered in implementation, together with forestry studies in Muğla, Isparta and Antalya Regional Forestry Directorates in the Western Mediterranean Region. The study group of the research consisted of 117 forest engineers working in the Western Mediterranean Region. In the research, a survey form consisting of 9 sections was applied to determine the opinions of engineers. To analyze the data obtained in the research, with the help of the Statistical Package 28.0 program for Social Sciences; frequency and percentage, mean, t test (independent samples t test) was used for pairwise group comparisons, and one-way analysis of variance (one way anova) was used for comparisons of more than two groups. If a significant difference was found between the groups as a result of one-way analysis of variance, Tukey HSD (multiple comparisons) tests were applied to determine which groups caused the differences. According to the results of the research; It is seen that the perception and awareness levels of forest engineers about sustainable forest management are high, and especially the employees of Muğla Regional Forestry Directorate attach importance to the criteria and indicator set. The need for necessary improvement and standardization in the measurability of the sustainable forest management criteria and indicator set comes to the fore. It was determined that the participants had a homogeneous view regarding the existence of the data set in the field and talked about the existence of indicators in the field. It has been determined that the necessary planning made in the field for the criterion and indicator set was successful. It has been determined that female forest engineers have more difficulty in measuring criteria and indicator sets than male forest engineers. It was concluded that the national set is sufficient for today's conditions.