Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Prof., Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, I.I.IRAN

2 Ph.D. Student, Faculty of Desert Science, Semnan University, I.I.IRAN.

3 Assistant Prof., Faculty of Desert Science, Semnan University, I.I.IRAN.

4 Ph.D. Student, Faculty of Desert Science, University of Tehran,I.I.IRAN

Abstract

Achieving integrated natural resource management fundamentally needs effective and coordinated
relationship, collaboration, and synergy among various actors who have common but different
responsibilities. In this sense, the foundation of comprehensive and integrated management is not
compatible with centralization and top-down strategies. The aim of this paper is analysis of network
and organizational cohesion of natural resources stakeholders in Semnan province. In this study,
relations of existing organizations within the network have been investigated based on interorganizational
information transfer and collaboration through social network analysis method and
applying 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 successfully
natural resource integrated management policies have been realized at least within the fourth and
fifth development programs. Therefore, present study is an attempt to address this question
quantitatively and relying on the results of indexes of structural analysis of natural resource
stakeholders’ network in the pilot area. The results of this study indicate that institutional cohesion
is 40 percent (poor) and sustainability of institutional network based on reciprocity is about 47
percent (medium). Additionally the core-periphery index showed that the density of institutional
network 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 natural
resources management and reveal the necessity of reducing network centralization and
strengthening the relationship among various stakeholders of this section.

Keywords