Research Information System
Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
This study examines the structural factors leading the Tahtacı Turkmen community–long recognized as bearers of traditional knowledge for sustainable forest management–to abandon wood production. Using qualitative methods, including participant observation and semi-structured interviews, data were collected from multiple stakeholder groups: Tahtacı Turkmen forest workers, association representatives, and forestry administration personnel. The analysis identifies fifteen key factors, including the absence of social security, low unit prices, harsh working conditions, and the loss of legal status. The findings indicate that the lack of social protection is the most critical factor, particularly in eroding the interest of younger generations in the occupation and disrupting the intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge. Overall, the study demonstrates that these challenges give rise to not only an economic but also a cultural crisis. Accordingly, the paper calls for the urgent provision of social security, a fair revision of unit pricing, improvements in legal recognition, and structural reforms to enhance the participation of Tahtacı Turkmen communities in forest governance.