Yaser Ghasemi Aryan; Firoozeh Moghiminejad; Mohammadreza Shahraki; Alireza Yari
Volume 31, Issue 3 , September 2024, , Pages 232-247
Abstract
Abstract:Background and purpose The cooperative institution is considered the first and most essential pillar of strengthening social capital, whose stability guarantees the survival and continued participation of local communities in natural resource management projects. Village Development Group ...
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Abstract:Background and purpose The cooperative institution is considered the first and most essential pillar of strengthening social capital, whose stability guarantees the survival and continued participation of local communities in natural resource management projects. Village Development Group and Microcredit Fund are two important social and economic institutions in the implementation of the international project of revitalization of forested and degraded lands with special emphasis on lands sensitive to saline soils and lands prone to wind erosion (RFLDL) in Sarayan city of Khorasan province. It has been the southern region that has brought valuable lessons from the participation of users in the more effective implementation of projects to combat desertification. The stability of these institutions depends on the participation and activity of the members in the decision-making meetings of the development groups in order to strengthen the social, economic, human, natural and physical capital of the village, as well as complying with the regulations of the microcredit fund and depositing monthly small amounts. However, the low activity or liquidation of some of these institutions has become one of the important challenges and concerns of project executive experts. The current research was carried out with the aim of explaining the main factors of the instability of these institutions.MethodologyThis research is descriptive-analytical in terms of method, practical in terms of purpose, and the method of gathering information is two documentary and survey methods. The target community is all the members of the village development groups and micro credit funds in the target villages of the implementation of the RFLDL project in Sarayan city. The measuring tool of the research was a researcher-made questionnaire, based on Cochran's formula and matching with Karjesi and Morgan's table, 96 people were selected as a statistical sample. After validating the validity with the opinion of experts, the reliability of the questionnaire was 0.83, which shows that it is reliable. Data analysis was done using 22SPSS software. The relationship between variables was investigated using Smart PLS3 software. For this purpose, the factor load of each item was obtained.Results The results related to the explanation of the main components of the sustainability of cooperative institutions were classified and prioritized in the form of 4 groups of social-cultural, economic-household, educational-promotional and policy-management factors. Based on this, in the socio-cultural factors, the items "lack of attention to the structural characteristics and composition of groups", "lack of commitment and sense of responsibility among group members" and "lack of a specific pattern for the preservation and survival of groups", in the economic factors, the items " The fund's small financial capital", "low amount of fund facilities" and "the inability of the fund to conclude contracts and attract funds from other sources", in the educational-promotional factors, the items "non-simultaneity of skill training with granting loans" and "insufficient training for effective use" of facilities" and in policy-management factors, the item "non-provision of government facilities to support the funds" had the highest priority. The results of the hypothesis examination and path analysis also showed that the management-policy component with a coefficient of 0-0.581 had the strongest negative and significant effect on the sustainability of cooperative institutions at the level of 99%.Conclusion In general, the results of this research show that policy-management factors and social factors (especially the structure and composition of institutions) are considered as the most important factors of the stability of cooperative institutions. Therefore, it is suggested that experts and facilitators first strengthen organizational coordination and coherence at the level of government officials and, while securing appropriate credits, remove the legal obstacles to the participation of local communities in the implementation of projects to combat desertification. It is also necessary to consider network analysis studies, in order to achieve the appropriate composition of members, in the stage of establishment and establishment of institutions.
Maryam Kavianpour; Seyedeh Khadije Mahdavi; Mohammadreza Shahraki; Yaser GHasemi Arian
Volume 31, Issue 2 , August 2024, , Pages 149-168
Abstract
Background and purpose:Due to the occurrence of climate changes in recent decades, traditional animal husbandry systems based on rangelands have faced serious challenges. In this regard, the use of adaptation strategies is necessary as a solution to reduce the vulnerability of rangeland users. The present ...
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Background and purpose:Due to the occurrence of climate changes in recent decades, traditional animal husbandry systems based on rangelands have faced serious challenges. In this regard, the use of adaptation strategies is necessary as a solution to reduce the vulnerability of rangeland users. The present research has investigated the adaptation strategies of Turkmen pastoralists in the face of climate change in the Qaradong region of Golestan province. Materials and methods:This research is descriptive and has been carried out using a survey method. The research statistical population consists of 249 beneficiaries from 7 local communities in the Qaradong region of Golestan province, of which 148 people were selected as the sample size based on the Krejcie and Morgan table using a stratified random sampling method. The measuring tool of the research was a researcher-made questionnaire. The content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by using the opinions of rangeland experts, and its reliability was confirmed by calculating the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Results:The results showed that the degree of pastoralists' adaptation in the face of climate change is moderate to high. The findings indicate that there are significant differences in the use of climate change adaptation strategies among the pastoralists. Thus, combined-developmental, saving, correct consumption, and emergency strategies were identified as the most used strategies. Also, the results showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between adaptation of pastoralists in dealing with climate change with the history of livestock pastoralism and the amount of income derived from it at the 99% confidence level and also with the variables of age, the number of household members, and the amount of income from non-livestock occupations at the 95% confidence level. Conclusion: The livelihoods of the pastoralists are heavily dependent on the rangelands, and many of them have only one economic source. This causes the continuation of the climate change process to increase their vulnerability. Therefore, adopting new activities in the form of diversifying income sources and creating alternative livelihood opportunities, as well as multi-purpose use of rangelands, will bring more adaptability of pastoralists to climate changes.
Mohammadreza Shahraki; Mohsen Sharafatmandrad; Yaser GHasemi Arian
Volume 30, Issue 4 , February 2024, , Pages 571-589
Abstract
Background and purposeFailure to meet needs, climate change and resulting social and economic conflicts have faced many challenges in the life of nomadic communities. So that they are forced to leave animal husbandry temporarily or permanently. In this regard, the present research has identified and ...
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Background and purposeFailure to meet needs, climate change and resulting social and economic conflicts have faced many challenges in the life of nomadic communities. So that they are forced to leave animal husbandry temporarily or permanently. In this regard, the present research has identified and analyzed the reasons for the abandonment of livestock by nomadic in the summery rangeland of northeastern Iran.Materials and methodsThe current research purpose is applied and descriptive information was collected by survey method and using a mixed approach. The statistical population is consists of 175 Kurdish nomadic households of Kurmanj, North Khorasan, from four traditional communities in the rangelands of Ajisu area in Marve-tape city, Golestan province. According to Yamane's (1967) formula, 122 beneficiaries were selected as a sample using a stratified random method with proportional assignment within the studied customary systems. The measurement tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, the items and components of which were finalized based on 15 interviews with experts who were identified based on the snowball technique. So that the questionnaire was prepared based on 46 items in the form of 11 components. Each of the items through a five-point Likert scale including very little (with a numerical value of 1), little (with a numerical value of 2), to some extent (with a numerical value of 3), a lot (with a numerical value of 4) and A lot (with a numerical value of 5) were measured. The content and face validity of the questionnaire was confirmed through experts' opinions and based on the convergent validity criterion (AVE), which has a minimum value of 0.5. To determine the reliability of the measurement tool, two criteria, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and composite reliability (CR) were calculated, for which a value greater than 0.7 is acceptable. After collecting data, statistical calculations in this research were done based on SPSS25 and Smart PLS3 software in two descriptive and inferential sections.ResultsThe results obtained from the average rank comparison showed that the five components of "livestock and rangeland management challenges", "climate changes and the resulting threats", "incompatibility of the market with the new needs of grazing", "lack of economic The presence of animal husbandry and the reduction of saving power" and "life experiences outside of animal husbandry and changes in local customs" respectively, with the highest mean values of 10.09, 9.87, 8.27, 8.14 and 7.93 are the highest. It has had a degree of importance and influence in the abandonment of livestock by nomadic in the studied area. The results obtained from the relationships between the components of the model of the reasons for the abandonment of livestock by nomadic showed that all the relationships were positive and significant at the 95% confidence level. So that the strongest relationships are assigned to "life experience outside ranching → conflict" and "reduction in family ability → life experience outside ranching" with path coefficients of 0.687 and 0.547. The weakest of them also belong to the two relations "weakness of government services → reduction of savings" and "weakness of government services → market mismatch". As the results showed, climate change and its consequences on the two factors of production reduction and poor access to financial resources (ρ=0.010, β=0.363 and t=2.585) and the weakness of government services and lack of Infrastructures (ρ=0.000, β=0.301 and t=4.364) had a positive and significant effect at the 99% confidence level.ConclusionAccording to the obtained results, the development of livelihood support of the government, including educational facilities and health and medical infrastructures, providing facilities and cheap bank loans for the development of businesses with the aim of reducing the dependence of users on rangeland, development of veterinary services free in the affairs of the nomads of the province, increasing government subsidies in the distribution of supplementary animal feed, flour and fuel, laying the groundwork for providing drinking water for animals and families, creating job opportunities through the holding of professional and skill training courses Businesses such as handicrafts and the production of targeted dairy products, the creation of livestock markets and the sale of live livestock are suggested in order to prevent nomadic communities from abandoning traditional animal husbandry
Mohammadreza Shahraki; Ahmad Abedi Sarvestani; Abdolrahim Lotfi
Volume 28, Issue 1 , April 2021, , Pages 138-150
Abstract
Adverse climate change, drought, and floods have a negative impact on natural resources, crops, and livestock production as the main sources of livelihood for the villagers. Therefore, it is important to study the perception of rural communities about the occurrence of climate change and its relationship ...
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Adverse climate change, drought, and floods have a negative impact on natural resources, crops, and livestock production as the main sources of livelihood for the villagers. Therefore, it is important to study the perception of rural communities about the occurrence of climate change and its relationship with a sustainable livelihood. The present study was conducted for this purpose by descriptive-survey research method. In this study, 297 residents Age 35 years and older in 10 villages of the Oghan watershed in Golestan province were surveyed. The data collection tool of the questionnaire was developed by the researcher; its content validity was confirmed using the opinions of university academics and natural resources experts. The results showed that age, number of livestock, history of animal husbandry, length of stay in the village, and income of individuals with their perception of the symptoms of climate change have a positive and significant relationship. Findings of structural equation model evaluation showed a causal relationship between the perception of the occurrence of climate change symptoms and individuals' livelihood changes so that with increasing awareness of villagers about the occurrence of climate change symptoms, their livelihood is facing more changes.
Mohammadreza Shahraki; Khadijeh Mahdavi
Volume 27, Issue 4 , December 2020, , Pages 763-771
Abstract
A number of factors cause negative changes in the quality and quantity of rangelands, which leads to downward sloping and severe soil degradation, vegetation cover, and ultimately decrease the income of stakeholders. Stakeholders and ranchers have an indigenous managerial experience at their rangelands ...
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A number of factors cause negative changes in the quality and quantity of rangelands, which leads to downward sloping and severe soil degradation, vegetation cover, and ultimately decrease the income of stakeholders. Stakeholders and ranchers have an indigenous managerial experience at their rangelands because of their dependence on rangelands. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effective indices of rangelands downstream from the viewpoint of stakeholders in northeastern Golestan province. This research was a descriptive- applied one in terms of purpose, and it was surveyed by random stratified sampling method among the stakeholders in the study area. Questionnaires were used to collect data. The validity of the research instrument was evaluated using the experts' viewpoints and its reliability was evaluated based on Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the main variables of the study. The statistical population of the study consisted of 461 stakeholders in two rural and nomadic farming systems that 182 of them were selected by Cochran formula as sample size. The results showed that the downward trend of rangelands is more often detected by stakeholders with livestock indices than by vegetation and soil indices. According to the findings of the study, there was a positive and significant relationship between age and past livestock variables with stakeholder's view of rangeland's downward signs at 99 and 95% confidence level. According to the research findings, there was a positive and significant relationship between age variables and stakeholder's pastoral background with their view of detecting the downward trend of rangelands at 99 and 95% confidence level. Also, the results obtained from comparing the stakeholder's views in the two rural and nomadic systems showed that the nomadic stakeholder were more familiar with the indicators of the downward trend of the rangelands to rural stakeholder.
Seyedeh Khadijeh Mahdavi; Faramarz Ghafouri; Ahmad Abedi Sarvestani; Mohamadreza Shahraki
Volume 26, Issue 1 , June 2019, , Pages 73-88
Abstract
Considering the importance and basic role of participation and social cohesion of beneficiaries in the success of reclamation and improvement projects, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rangeland beneficiaries' social cohesion on their participation in reclamation and improvement ...
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Considering the importance and basic role of participation and social cohesion of beneficiaries in the success of reclamation and improvement projects, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rangeland beneficiaries' social cohesion on their participation in reclamation and improvement activities in northeastern rangelands of Golestan province. This research was descriptive-survey, conducted with stratified random sampling. Questionnaires were used for data collection. The validity of research was examined by using the views of natural resources and social sciences experts and its reliability was assessed according to the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the main variables. The statistical population of the study consisted of 461 exploiters in two nomadic and rural exploitation systems (N = 461), among which 210 beneficiaries were interviewed using Morgan table. According to the results, the interaction section with an average of 3.75 and the conflict section with an average of 3.73 had the most and least impact on the social cohesion of the beneficiaries, respectively. The findings indicate that the beneficiaries have more contributed to reclamation practices as compared with rangeland improvement projects.Also, there was a positive and significant correlation between the social cohesion and the participation rate of beneficiaries in reclamation and improvement plans with a correlation coefficient of 0.474 at a confidence level of 99%. Nomadic beneficiaries had more social cohesion than rural beneficiaries. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the participation rate in both nomadic and rural exploitation systems.Thus, the potential of local communities could be used in conducting range improvement and reclamation practices in areas where interaction and social cohesion are high.