leila avazpour; mahdi ghorbani; reza erfanzadeh
Abstract
Social capital is the prerequisite of co_management. Evaluation of social capital for achieving community-based management is therefore of capital importance. Detection of key actors in local communities for co_management of natural eco_systems is as well quite important. These people are generally regarded ...
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Social capital is the prerequisite of co_management. Evaluation of social capital for achieving community-based management is therefore of capital importance. Detection of key actors in local communities for co_management of natural eco_systems is as well quite important. These people are generally regarded as local leaders and they have the potential to play a key role in co_management. Social Network Analysis method was applied and macro level and micro level indexes of rangeland users’ network in traditional boundary of Hagh-ol-Khaje in Mayamey District were analyzed as a way for measuring the social capital and recognizing influencial local leaders. It was found out that the level of social capital of beneficiaries based on trust tie was moderate and based on collaboration tie it was low. Sustainability of ties and network balance were as well weak and trust and collaboration ties were not optimally established. Low speed of exchange in trust and collaboration ties and lack of unity among beneficiaries are other important challenges in rangeland co_management. Gh_Gh and Es_Sa were recognized as the corest actors among Hagholkhaje rangeland users. These people can play important role in co_managements because of their authority and social influence and they can act as gatekeepers connecting governmental institutions and other users for sustainable rural development.
Emad Zakeri; Mahdi Ghorbani; Ali Bozorgmehr; Hojatollah Rabani Nasab
Abstract
Current nomad settlement programs seek improving the quality of nomads’ life as their ultimate goal. However, it seems some of these programs failed due to some problems such as socio- economic problems that appear after settlement or due to the lack of proper preliminary studies before the implementation. ...
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Current nomad settlement programs seek improving the quality of nomads’ life as their ultimate goal. However, it seems some of these programs failed due to some problems such as socio- economic problems that appear after settlement or due to the lack of proper preliminary studies before the implementation. Nomad settlement program in Northern Khorasan is not an exception; therefore, identification and prioritization of problems before implementation of the program in Northern Khorasan is essential for better planning. The required data to identify and prioritize nomad settlement problems and to plan for their proper settlement were gathered through a questionnaire including the criteria and sub-criteria as well as options to solve extant challenges. The questionaire then was completed by experts and analyzed by using the analytic hierarchy process in Expert Choice2000. The results showed that cultural and social management and planning factors with coefficients of (0.433) and (0.314), respectively left the greatest influence on the failure of relevant projects in North Khorasan province. Therefore; the reform of the administrative and planning system as an important solution to problems related to the management and planning criteria and increasing the nomads’ participation in planning and management as an important solution to problems related to social and cultural criteria were assessed in present study.
vahid jafarian; Mohammadreza Yazdani; Mohammad Rahimi; Mehdi Ghorbani
Mostafa Firuzruz; Mahdi Ghorbani; Reza Erfanzadeh
Abstract
Indigenous knowledge of each land is the manner of understanding and attitude of people towards world that shows the outcome of ancestors' experiences for years on optimal utilization of resources around human beings. Emphasis on technology transition and disregard for indigenous knowledge cause not ...
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Indigenous knowledge of each land is the manner of understanding and attitude of people towards world that shows the outcome of ancestors' experiences for years on optimal utilization of resources around human beings. Emphasis on technology transition and disregard for indigenous knowledge cause not only destroys the relationship between humans and the environment, but also causes disruption in sustainable development programs. This research with the overview of some part of indigenous knowledge of the Baladeh region of Noor city, emphasizes on local traditions on manufacture and management of sheep dairy products in Takor village. The study method of this research is based on filed studies, that qualitative methods including directs observations, cooperative observation and organized interviews with target groups have been used to generate information and data. The results of this research include analysis of pastoralists’ knowledge for livestock management and evaluation of different aspects of milk derivatives processing and dispensation in the form of traditional cooperatives named “Ayargiri” and “Shakhupi”. Based on the research results can be stated that pastoralists in the study village have found a social organization based on local traditions and customs toward dairy products management. This organization will be a kind of social capital for stakeholders. Eventually, it can be stated that stability of subsistence economy of residents in the study area depends on sustainability and improvement of social cohesion and capital in social network of rangeland utilizers
Sareh Rasekhi; Ali Akbar Mehrabi; Seyed Akbar Javadi; Mehdi Ghorbani
Abstract
Renewable natural resources are national capital and are of paramount importance in each country. Preservation and developing these resources is incumbent upon relevant institutions and all people especially the beneficiaries. In this regard, various approaches have been recommended for optimum use and ...
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Renewable natural resources are national capital and are of paramount importance in each country. Preservation and developing these resources is incumbent upon relevant institutions and all people especially the beneficiaries. In this regard, various approaches have been recommended for optimum use and sustainable preservation of natural resources especially rangelands among which co-management is highly emphasized. To pinpoint challenges and barriers before co-management, the integrated institution-beneficiaries network (institutions related to rangeland management and rangeland users) of Ghasr-e-Yaghoub village in Safashahr was analyzed applying social network analysis method. Results demonstrated that cohesion level among rangeland users and institutions related to rangeland and also network sustainability in the study area was moderate and Village Islamic Council and Jihad-e Keshavarzi (Agricultural Development Agency) were the two most influential institutions. In other words, they were core actors among all institutions. Therefore, reinforcement of cohesion among actors and recognizing key actors in different levels are necessary approaches for implementation of co-management action plan. Additionally, it helps natural resource managers for sustainable management of rangelands.
Mehdi Ghorbani; Vahid Jafarian; Mohammad Reza Yazdani; Mahsa Abdolshahnejad
Abstract
Achieving integrated natural resource management fundamentally needs effective and coordinatedrelationship, collaboration, and synergy among various actors who have common but differentresponsibilities. In this sense, the foundation of comprehensive and integrated management is notcompatible with centralization ...
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Achieving integrated natural resource management fundamentally needs effective and coordinatedrelationship, collaboration, and synergy among various actors who have common but differentresponsibilities. In this sense, the foundation of comprehensive and integrated management is notcompatible with centralization and top-down strategies. The aim of this paper is analysis of networkand organizational cohesion of natural resources stakeholders in Semnan province. In this study,relations of existing organizations within the network have been investigated based on interorganizationalinformation transfer and collaboration through social network analysis method andapplying macro-level and middle indexes of institutional network including; the network size,density, ties reciprocity, and centralization at macro-level and core-periphery index at middle level.Policy monitoring emphasized in present paper’s title refers to this question that how successfullynatural resource integrated management policies have been realized at least within the fourth andfifth development programs. Therefore, present study is an attempt to address this questionquantitatively and relying on the results of indexes of structural analysis of natural resourcestakeholders’ network in the pilot area. The results of this study indicate that institutional cohesionis 40 percent (poor) and sustainability of institutional network based on reciprocity is about 47percent (medium). Additionally the core-periphery index showed that the density of institutionalnetwork of Semnan province in core actors’ subgroup is 77 percent and in periphery actors’subgroup is 25 percent. Research findings identify existing capacities for applyin integrated naturalresources management and reveal the necessity of reducing network centralization andstrengthening the relationship among various stakeholders of this section.
M Ghorbani; A.A Mehrabi; M Servati; A.A Nazari Samani
Volume 63, Issue 1 , June 2010, , Pages 75-88
Abstract
Nowadays, population growth and on the other hand resources limitations astonish authorities. Population changes cause variation in economic activities and land use changes. As a whole, overusing, improper land use and human disturbances over natural resources make environmental imbalances worse. In ...
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Nowadays, population growth and on the other hand resources limitations astonish authorities. Population changes cause variation in economic activities and land use changes. As a whole, overusing, improper land use and human disturbances over natural resources make environmental imbalances worse. In recent decades, we have seen land use changes in Taleghan basin. Land use changes were produced by many factors, e.g. in abandoned lands, some parts of the region have been converted to residential areas and constructions. Since one century before, because of vicinity to population centers like Tehran and upland condition, this region has been a suitable place for recreation of travelers. Also one of the most important factors has been changed in population which has occurred in Taleghan. So that the statistical information shows substantial decrease in villages population in Taleghan. Similar to the, other regions in Iran, landuse changes especially in rangelands, is an important subject in Taleghan too. This paper tries to illustrate the relationship between population and land use changes in the given region of study and to detect the land use changes in a 15-year period. For determining the landuse, we used geographic information system and statistical methods, remote sensing also landSat images for 1987 and 2001 together. Population size were gained and analyzed for computing the population growth rate. According to what we concluded, in abandoned lands in given region of study the growth rate was positive and in other word, it increased and for other land uses this rate was negative together with negative increasing in all villages, therefore the population decreased. The villages of this region according to their magnitude of reduction in population growth and abandoned lands are: Gateh deh, Narian, Noviz oliya, Dizan, Jovestan, garab, Orazan, Nesa Bala, Mehran, Khachireh, Drapy. Thus, great number of settlers during these years migrated and the population decreased and following this trend, great area of rangelands (37.88%) which has already converted to rain-fed lands, has emerged in the form of abandoned lands in this region. In Gateh deh village, the area of rangelands had the maximum reduction and on the contrary, abandoned lands had the maximum amount of growth. Finally, it could be inferred that, there is a logical relationship between population growth and the area of abandoned lands.
H. Arzani; A. Esfandiari; H. Nourozian; M. Ghorbani; J. Torkan
Volume 62, Issue 2 , October 2009, , Pages 175-186
Abstract
Knowledge on animal requirement, available forage and its quality is fundamental for successful livestock and range management. Since sheep is dominant grazing animal of rangelands in Iran and there are over 27 sheep breeds and each breed has special body size, physiological condition and consequently ...
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Knowledge on animal requirement, available forage and its quality is fundamental for successful livestock and range management. Since sheep is dominant grazing animal of rangelands in Iran and there are over 27 sheep breeds and each breed has special body size, physiological condition and consequently different daily nutrition requirement, animal unit should be determinated for dominant breed of sheep in every region to be calculated the forage requirement based on body weight, daily energy requirement and quality of available forage. In this study, two herds of Kermanshah's Sanjabi breed have been weighted including 50 animals in each herd (15 heads three years old ewe, 15 heads four years old ewe, 5 heads three years old ram, 5 heads four years old ram, 5 heads three months old lamb and 5 heads six months old lamb) in three stages. The body weight of Sanjabi breed (based on average body weight of three and four years old ewe) was 60.68 ±0.56 kg. Animal unit equivalent (AUE) for ewe, ram and lamb were 1.29, 1.88 and 0.63 kg, respectively. The results of analysis of variance indicated that there are significant differences between weight of ewes and rams (P