Charcoal production is one of the major exploits of forests in Lorestan province (especially the middle Zagros). The goal of this study was to investigate the challenges of charcoal production process in the forests of the Bastam area of Aleshtar city. For this purpose, SWAT questionnaire was prepared by forestry expertise in Lorestan province through flied surving. The questionnaires were distributed to the role-makers (12 from the local community and 40 from the expert) and were scored on a Likert scale. The strategic positioning matrix and strategic action matrix were used to guide the coalization strategy. The results showed that the most important strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the charcoal between experts were considering local livelihoods and increasing household income is deforestation (density reduction, canopy cover and gradual deforestation), reducing rural migration to the city and endangering the sustainability of the forest, respectively. Local role-makers emphasized on weaknesses, opportunities and threats, including respiratory and visual impairment, and bodies burns, Possibility of setting up a collaborative management system, and the presence of people outside the rural custom for charcoal. The position evaluation matrix and strategic action confirmed the defensive strategy (for the whole statistical population and experts) and the conservative (for the local population). It was suggested to optimize forest management and reduce charcoal production, empower local communities and create micro-funds for afforestation and reforestation, and reduce or remove charcoal production from oak trees.
