Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
2 Social Business Institute, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Rangelands, as socio-ecological systems, play a vital role in ensuring food security and livelihoods for communities. However, climate change and human factors pose serious threats to these ecosystems. In response to these challenges, governments have supported restoration and rehabilitation efforts for rangelands. Natural resource governance has emerged as a novel approach in managing these systems, aiming to ensure the sustainability of rangelands by creating a shared understanding of resource conditions and suitable management regulations, as well as enhancing adaptive capacity in the face of the complexities of environmental changes and the uncertainties they bring.This study employs a social network analysis approach, utilizing the snowball sampling method and applying indicators of intra-group and inter-group link densities, as well as core-periphery structures. It assesses the status of cooperation and knowledge transfer relationships within the rangeland governance system in the Tarash County among stakeholders engaged in protective, developmental, and intermediary roles. The findings indicate a high degree of inter-group connections and the presence of strong structural openings, alongside a low level of intra-group connections and a network that remains less than optimal. This suggests that the knowledge structure governing rangelands in the area is not based on negotiation and is characterized by surplus knowledge processes, highlighting the inefficiency of ecological knowledge flow in enhancing adaptability among the organizational stakeholders involved in rangeland management in Tarash County.This study emphasizes the importance of social capital and reciprocal learning in strengthening collaborations and collective decision-making, demonstrating that establishing consensus among stakeholders with diverse objectives is key to successful adaptive governance.
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