The first step in forest protection is to assess the livelihood dependence of the people of the region on the forest and identify the factors affecting this dependence. In this regard, the present research was conducted with the aim of investigating and analyzing the dependency of rural communities on the Zagros forests in the rural areas of Abdanan County in the year 2024. Accordingly, quantitative paradigm and descriptive-correlation method were used. The statistical population in the present study was all the active population living in the rural areas of Abdanan County, using the sampling table of Bartlett et al., 209 of them were selected for the study by multi-stage cluster sampling method. The tool of data collection in this research was a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by using face and content validity method and its reliability was confirmed by Kudur-Richardson method. In order to analyze the collected data, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in SPSSwin26 software. The findings of the study showed that the majority (72.2%) of the studied villagers depended on Zagros forests at an average level. Also, the results of the regression analysis showed that the variables of the diversity of income sources (β=-0.34), the amount of assets (β=-0.27), the amount of income (β=-.024) and access to the sales market (β=0.16) are predictors for the dependency of rural communities on the Zagros forests; in such a way that the coefficient of determination for these four variables is generally equal to 0.178. Considering these findings, it is suggested that the government should plan and implement support and employment creation projects in villages on the edge of forests to improve the livelihood and income of the people in these areas and consequently increase their income and assets in order to reduce their dependence on forest resources. In fact, the results of this research, in addition to filling the gap in studies on the livelihood dependence of rural communities on forests, can be used by government and private policymakers as a guide for better management and planning of the livelihood dependence of rural communities on forests.