Sosan Salajegheh; Leila Avazpour; Mehdi Ghorbani
Abstract
Since a significant portion of water resources and other essential resources required by communities are located in adjacent watersheds and suburban areas, the implementation of management programs often conflicts with the interests and demands of watershed residents. Resolving these disputes is only ...
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Since a significant portion of water resources and other essential resources required by communities are located in adjacent watersheds and suburban areas, the implementation of management programs often conflicts with the interests and demands of watershed residents. Resolving these disputes is only achievable through peaceful methods that safeguard the rights of all parties while ensuring environmental sustainability. Among effective approaches, the cooperation and participation of local communities along with strengthening the social capital of watershed inhabitants prove particularly valuable. Social capital, founded upon individual participation in collective activities and the establishment of mutual trust among community members, enhances the process of social engagement in comprehensive watershed management. This study measures and analyzes social capital in four villages of Bakharz County (Eshtivan, Chahar Tagh, Shahrak Shahid Beheshti, and Qaleh Now Shamloo) both before and after implementation of a rural development and improvement project. The research employs Social Network Analysis (SNA) methodology. Required data were collected through survey questionnaires and subsequently analyzed using UCINET software. Key network analysis indicators were calculated to assess social capital, including: network density (indicating connection levels among members), centrality (measuring influence and power within the network), reciprocity (evaluating mutual relationships), transitivity of relationships (showing cohesion and information flow), and average geodesic distance (assessing information dissemination speed). The findings reveal a substantial increase in social capital across all four villages following the local development project's implementation. This improvement appears particularly pronounced in Eshtivan village, where decreased power centralization coincided with increased trust and participation. The reduction in average geodesic distance and enhancement in relationship reciprocity further demonstrate the strengthening of social bonds and local institutions. These results underscore the critical importance of social capital in building social resilience and achieving sustainable rural development. Consequently, we recommend that policymakers and development planners prioritize strategies focused on reinforcing social capital, especially through establishing and supporting local institutions.
mahbube hoseini; Ali Golkarian
Abstract
Resource management governing as one of the most valuable nature resource of watersheds with the involvement of local beneficiary to participatory management of water resources, one of the requirements of the water security program. So we considered social network analysis as an approach to analyzing ...
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Resource management governing as one of the most valuable nature resource of watersheds with the involvement of local beneficiary to participatory management of water resources, one of the requirements of the water security program. So we considered social network analysis as an approach to analyzing the relationship between local stakeholders for sustainable management of water resources. The purpose of this study is study social network of local stakeholders using social network analysis in watershed of Kharve Olya of Neyshabur city. This study has been made based on trust and participant links and using quantitative and mathematical indicators in network macro-level (density, concentration, links reciprocity, transferability of links, the average geodesic distance). The results show that social capital degree based on trust and participant links was strong and stability and balance of network is evaluated at the upper limit that indicates a high level of mutual trust and participant among the local stakeholders. Also the correlation between trust and participant links based on QAP index was 66% and upward average. Results of mean geodesic distance index based on trust and participant link trust indicate trust and participant flow rate is from moderate to high degree. The results can be argued that high levels of social capital and unity among people lead to increase trust and participant flow rate among stakeholders so we can accomplish successful governing of water resources at the less expense and time.
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
Sare Rasekhi; Mahdi Ghorbani; Aliakbar Mehrabi; Seyed Akbar Javadi
Abstract
Cooperation in pastoralism and indigenous knowledge of dairy management had been considered for many years in Iran and had been adapted with culture and environment of every region. This research had illustrated the analysis of indigenous knowledge and social cohesion in dairy management of grazing livestock ...
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Cooperation in pastoralism and indigenous knowledge of dairy management had been considered for many years in Iran and had been adapted with culture and environment of every region. This research had illustrated the analysis of indigenous knowledge and social cohesion in dairy management of grazing livestock in Ghasr e Yaghub village. Research method was a combination of filed studies, direct observation, and cooperative observation and organized interview. The results include functions of cooperative management system of “Ham Shiry” among rural women named “Shir Dan”, different dimensions of indigenous knowledge, mechanism of dairy management among women and related traditions and local cooperation. The results demonstrated that rural women in the study area had been created social institution based on local rules and in order to manage dairy products. This kind of associations had been rooted in indigenous knowledge and has a significant role to save and improve social cohesion and sustainability of economical characteristics of local inhabitants.
