Roya Vazirian; Aliakbar Karimian; Mehdi Ghorbani; Seyed Alireza Afshani
Volume 28, Issue 1 , April 2021, , Pages 181-194
Abstract
Social network analysis and identification of key actors in social systems is one of the necessary measures for the sustainable management of natural resources. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the social capital, status, and relationships of actors in the information exchange network ...
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Social network analysis and identification of key actors in social systems is one of the necessary measures for the sustainable management of natural resources. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the social capital, status, and relationships of actors in the information exchange network and their structural pattern and to identify key actors in the three villages of Estaj, Borzu, and Izi in Sabzevar. For this purpose, first, qualitative studies of survey approach, direct observation method, and target population interview were identified. Based on the results of calculating the intermediate centrality index, the degree of input, output, and proximity in the trust matrix and participation in irrigation in the three villages studied, the role and position of actors were identified, and key actors were identified in these indexes. The results showed key actors have a high social status, authority, and influence and play a role of control and intermediary in the village. As a result, they can as social power and local leaders play a key role in the decision-making and networking processing, coordinating individuals, communicating with others, accessing resources and information, and speeding up their exchange, resolving disputes and conflicts, trust in the network and thus increase social capital. Increasing the amount of social capital as the key management tool will lead to the establishment of sustainable management of natural resources.
Parvin Mohammadi; Mahdi Ghorbani; Arash Malekian; Ali Akbar Nazari Semani
Volume 27, Issue 2 , June 2020, , Pages 287-299
Abstract
Nowadays, the adverse effects of climate change and its damaging effects have become an environmental, social and economic problem. Assessing the vulnerability of local communities to climate change as an important step in identifying effective mechanisms and prioritizing management will be enhancing ...
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Nowadays, the adverse effects of climate change and its damaging effects have become an environmental, social and economic problem. Assessing the vulnerability of local communities to climate change as an important step in identifying effective mechanisms and prioritizing management will be enhancing flexibility and increasing adaptability. This research is field-survey research, performed by using field observation and completing a vulnerability questionnaire to climate change in three villages of Aghabarar, Seyyed Ayaz, and Seyyed Ahmad in Qasrshirin city. The study was based on the vulnerability indexes such as exposure, sensitivity, and adaptation capacity. Questionnaires were completed among the target groups, which were finally analyzed using statistical tests such as the analysis of variance, Fisher, and Levin. The results showed that the components of exposure, sensitivity, and economy in Qasr Shirin city were vulnerable. Also, there was no significant difference between the three villages in a dry climate, and the vulnerability of Aghabarar village was 3.43, Seyyed Ahmad village was 3.30, and Seyyed Ayaz village with a value of 3.13 was higher than the average value of vulnerability. Also, Seyyed Ahmad village had the highest level of environmental vulnerability in the face of climate change with a value of 4.1. The vulnerability of exposure components and sensitivity is due to climatic events, geographical location, and dependence of local communities on natural resources and climate. Also, the high vulnerability of the economic component is due to the poverty and lack of physical capital of the communities. The vulnerability of the three components of exposure, susceptibility, and economics has caused the vulnerability of the communities studied. These factors affect the compatibility of local communities and countries, their willingness, or ability to adapt. The government with local involvement can effectively respond to the negative effects of climate change as well.
Maryam Barzgar; Mehdi Ghorbani; Alireza Moghadamnia; Abolvahed Hoseini Gezir
Volume 26, Issue 4 , December 2019, , Pages 971-985
Abstract
The social structure of water resources is one of the cultural potential dimensions of rural communities in Iran which plays a significant role in conventional management of water resources. The main objective of this research is to identify social structure associated with water resources management ...
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The social structure of water resources is one of the cultural potential dimensions of rural communities in Iran which plays a significant role in conventional management of water resources. The main objective of this research is to identify social structure associated with water resources management in the Gezir plain of Bandar lengeh. In the present study, Anthropology methods, direct and participatory observation and interviews with water resource users of Gazir village were collected. Economic, social, environmental constraints, especially water resources, as well as the common needs of indigenous people in the Gazir plain have led to formation of a social structure indirect to adapt the water scarcity, and farmers have exploited the water resources collectively through social structures as well as physical structures commensurate with their needs. The most important social roles currently affect the management of water resources in the plain are: Landowner, Kadkhoda, kharras,Gaboun, Gharises and Bazeyare Aids, beliefs, values and norms are another part of cultural potential of the plain of Gezir to adapt to the conditions of nature which has been created by farmers in the context of the social structure. In fact, self-organization and existence of aids in water management is one of the basic principles in the Gezir plain. Generally speaking, despite the elimination of large landowners after land reform, spontaneous co-operation and assistance in water management in form of social structure is one of the basic principles in the plain. Nowadays, therefore, it can be argued that using experiences of indigenous peoples of the plain in social structure, as the main agents of water resources management, due to their adaptation to the ecological conditions of the region, it is the most appropriate methods of sustainable development.
Mahsa Abdolshahnejad; Ali Akbar Nazari Samanni; Mehdi Ghorbani; Aziz Orsham; feridoon Taheri
Volume 26, Issue 2 , July 2019, , Pages 325-339
Abstract
The effects of human activities on the land use and landscape and its subsequent effects on the natural environment have always been considered. Therefore, to have a sustainable landscape planning, knowing about such changes would be essential. Satellite images of TM sensor in ...
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The effects of human activities on the land use and landscape and its subsequent effects on the natural environment have always been considered. Therefore, to have a sustainable landscape planning, knowing about such changes would be essential. Satellite images of TM sensor in 1990, ETM+ Sensor in 2002 as well as OLI Landsat 8 in 2013 were used to investigate the trend of changes and preparation of cover maps. The executive phase of the study included the analysis of the gradient of land use structure in eight geographical directions for class area (CA), number of patch (NP), and mean patch size (MPS) in seven classes such as woodland) low-density forest and garden), water zone, agriculture, bare land, rangeland, urban and sand dunes. The results showed that the land use of woodland, urban, and sand dunes had an increasing trend, while the bare land showed a decreasing trend. The results of gradient analysis of land use structure in eight geographical directions indicated that the most changes were in the west and center of the region. Based on the analysis of changes rate of metrics, the most changes were recorded for rangeland, bare land, and urban during 1990 to 2002; the woodland, agriculture, and urban during 2002 to 2013; and rangeland, woodland and urban during 1990 to 2013. Therefore, given that some aspects of land use change depend on human aspects, the relationship between these quantitative indicators can be used to determine the sustainability level as well as the future trend of land use change to identify the critical affected areas. Metrics of area, number of patches and mean patch size were recognized as the important indices in discussions of monitoring land use and mosaic changes.
leila Avazpour; Mehdi Ghorbani; Reza Erfanzadeh
Volume 25, Issue 3 , November 2018, , Pages 465-474
Abstract
The present study seeks to measure indicators influencing the resilience of users of Hagh-o-Al-Khaje village, whose rangelands are degraded. The research method is descriptive-analytic and the size of sample was defined 24 rangeland users according to Morgan table. Following a review ...
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The present study seeks to measure indicators influencing the resilience of users of Hagh-o-Al-Khaje village, whose rangelands are degraded. The research method is descriptive-analytic and the size of sample was defined 24 rangeland users according to Morgan table. Following a review of literature around resilience, the level of different kinds of resilience of users encountered with rangeland degradation was measured applying questionnaire and SPSS software. It was found out that the average reilience of Hagh-o-Al-Khaje rangeland users was 2.21, which is lower than average and indicates an unpleasent condition. It was as well found that human indicators had the most impact on resilience (impact factor, 0.662), but physical indicators had the least impact upon resilience (impact factor, 0.108). It can therefore be said that users were in good state regarding human indicators but not in the case of physical indicators. Needless to say, planning and resource allocation strategies must pay due attention to improving the resilience of Hagh-o-Al-Khaje rangeland users.
Zahra Eslamian; Mehdi Ghorbani; Tayebeh Mesbah zadeh; Hamed Rafiee
Volume 23, Issue 1 , June 2016, , Pages 188-196
Abstract
D Desertification and land degradation have created a defective cycle of environmental problems, and have intensified degradation trend. Economic-social challenges and political crisis are considered parts of the consequences of land degradation, which may increase the vulnerability of the affected societies. ...
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D Desertification and land degradation have created a defective cycle of environmental problems, and have intensified degradation trend. Economic-social challenges and political crisis are considered parts of the consequences of land degradation, which may increase the vulnerability of the affected societies. To strengthen the resilience of local communities to cope with any natural disaster, it is necessary to identify and prioritize the impact of these phenomena to solve them based on prioritization of these effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate and prioritize the social - economic impact with moderate desertification in the Nasrabad region from the perspective of local communities and the participation of the villagers in line with desertification. In this study, numerical taxonomy was used to prioritize socio-economic impacts of desertification. Using the Cochran formula and given the population of the study area (5579 Person), 80 samples were collected. In this study, due to the average wind erosion, the first rank was allocated to the spread of dust and environmental problems from the perspective of local communities. The people of the region, more than anyone else, have experienced and understood the ways of interacting with these fragile ecosystems over time. Therefore, these interaction methods should be considered as the key to solving the challenges of desertification or as the best and perhaps last chance to deal with it comprehensively.
Hossein Arzani; Javad Motamedi (Torkan); Ali Nikkhah; Hossein Azarnivand; Mehdi Ghorbani
Volume 19, Issue 4 , March 2013, , Pages 557-570
Abstract
Information on animal requirements is essential to calculate rangeland grazing capacity. Therefore, animal weight and animal unit equivalent (AUE) of each breed should be determined independently. In this research, live weight of Kabodeh sheep was determined based on average live weight of 3 and 4 years ...
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Information on animal requirements is essential to calculate rangeland grazing capacity. Therefore, animal weight and animal unit equivalent (AUE) of each breed should be determined independently. In this research, live weight of Kabodeh sheep was determined based on average live weight of 3 and 4 years old ewes. For this purpose, two herds of Kabodeh breed were selected. In each herd, 15 three–year-old ewes, 15 four-year-old ewes, 5 three-year-old rams, 5 four year-old-rams, 10 three-month-old lambs and 10 six-month--old lambs were selected. They were weighed two times including at the time of grazing season in lowland and highland rangelands. For determination of dry matter requirement, forage quality was taken into consideration. According to the results, animal weight for herds (three and four years old ewe) was 52.66±0.86 kg. Therefore, animal unit equivalent (AUE) for rams, ewes, 3 and 6-month-old lambs were 1.07, 1.66, 0.38 and 0.51, respectively. According to MAFF equation (1984), daily metabolizable energy requirement for maintenance condition was calculated 9.89 and 10.60 Mj (including that multiplied by 1.4 and 1.5) by considering condition of rangelands and distances from watering points and plant density in lowland and highland rangelands. Dry matter requirement was calculated 1.98 and1.80 kgbased on forage quality in lowland and highland rangelands.