Introduction and Objective: In the mountainous regions of western Iran, particularly within the forested landscapes of the Zagros, the conversion of forested areas to agricultural land has exerted substantial pressure on ecological capacity, threatening both ecosystem sustainability and agricultural productivity. In this context, agroforestry, an integrated system that simultaneously enhances soil conservation and rural livelihoods, emerges as a strategic approach. However, the successful implementation of such systems largely depends on the acceptance and behavioral readiness of local farmers. Sardasht County, located in the northern Zagros, with its ecological sensitivity and high livelihood dependence on natural resources, provides an appropriate setting for investigating these dynamics. Accordingly, the present study aimed to assess local communities’ willingness to adopt and implement agroforestry practices and to identify the key factors shaping their attitudes and behavioral intentions.
Material and Methods: The study employed a survey-based analytical design. Initially, using spatial and descriptive data from the Natural Resources Department, areas suitable for agroforestry implementation were identified. Subsequently, ten villages were purposively selected based on criteria such as relative climatic and socio-economic homogeneity and balanced geographical distribution. The target population comprised rural household heads adjacent to forested lands. Stratified random sampling was conducted, and the sample size was determined to be 306 individuals according to Krejcie and Morgan’s table. Data were collected via a researcher-designed questionnaire consisting of 27 items across two sections: contextual variables and factors influencing agroforestry adoption. Attitudes were measured on a five-point Likert scale. Content and face validity were confirmed by experts, and reliability was established with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.749. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in IBM SPSS version 26. Prior to factor extraction, sampling adequacy and correlation significance were verified using the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure and Bartlett’s test of sphericity.
Results: The results of the sampling adequacy test showed a KMO value of 0.763, indicating satisfactory sampling adequacy for factor analysis. Bartlett’s test of sphericity was also significant, with a chi-square value of 2330.620 (p = 0.000), confirming the presence of sufficient correlations among the items and the suitability of the correlation matrix for factor extraction. Using Principal Axis Factoring (PAF) and an eigenvalue greater than 1 as the extraction criterion, eight factors were extracted from the initial 27 items, collectively explaining 60% of the total variance. The first factor, behavioral acceptance and intention, alone accounted for 17.95% of the variance. The extracted factors were: (1) behavioral acceptance and intention, (2) training and technical capacity building, (3) institutional support and management, (4) motivations and drivers of agroforestry adoption, (5) contextual conditions for agroforestry implementation, (6) legal security and institutional trust, (7) environmental constraints, and (8) attitudes toward agroforestry and natural resource conservation. This multidimensional structure indicates that willingness to adopt agroforestry practices is shaped by the simultaneous interaction of behavioral, institutional, economic, and environmental factors.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that agroforestry adoption in Sardasht is driven not solely by economic incentives but by the synergistic effects of cognitive perceptions, livelihood benefits, and institutional conditions. Effective policy-making therefore requires integrated intervention packages, including targeted education, secure land-use rights, financial and technical support, and enhanced environmental awareness. Strengthening these dimensions can facilitate the transition from unsustainable land-use practices toward production systems aligned with ecological capacities. Overall, this study offers an analytical framework for understanding the social mechanisms underlying agroforestry adoption and provides a foundation for sustainable development planning in similar mountainous regions