Factors affecting ranchers' participation in the conservation activities of range management projects in Fars province

Rahmani, Roham

doi:10.22092/ijrdr.2018.117815

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Roham Rahmani

Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economic, Social and Extension Research Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Shiraz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22092/ijrdr.2018.117815

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the factors affecting ranchers' participation in the conservation activitiesof range management projects in Fars province. Using stratified random sampling method, 89 rangeland projects were selected based on the climatic conditions, vegetation cover, and the number of range management projects implemented. Data were collected using designed questionnaires and interviewing with 267 active ranchers in the rangelands. Poisson regression model and quasi-maximum likelihood estimation were used to identify the factors affecting participation of ranchers in the conservation activitiesof range management projects. According to the results, variables such as experience of ranchers and the number of ranchers in each range management project had a negative effect on the participation of ranchers in the conservation activitiesand it was significant at 1% level. Variables such as the level of formal education, the number of households employed in the agricultural sector and the relation with Natural Resources Offices and the relevant organizations had a positive relationship with participation in conservation activities; however, it was not statistically significant. Variables such as the amount of information passed to the ranchers after their involvement in range management projects, duration of grazing, the area of rangeland allocated to each rancher in the project, and the number of sheep and goats had a significant positive effect (P < 0.01). Based on these findings, it is necessary to express the importance of conservation programs and activitiesto the ranchersbased on theindigenous and scientific knowledge. Moreover, through empowering ranchers and providing the opportunities for investment in appropriate complementary activities, their participation in conservation activities and using rangeland services is enhanced, which would lead to sustainable livelihood.

Keywords

References

Clay, D., Reardon, T. and Kangasniemi, J., 1998. Sustainable intensification in the high land tropics: Rwandan farmers^,investments in land conservation and soil fertility. Economic Development and cultural change, 45(2): 351-378.

-D^,souza, G., Cyphers, D. and Phipps, T., 1993. Factors affecting the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Agriculture and Resource Economics Review, 22: 159-165.

-Ferranto, S., Huntsinger, L., Getz, C., Nakamura, G., Stewart, W., Drill, S., Valachovic, Y., Delasaux, M. and Kelly, M., 2011. Forest and rangeland owners value land for natural amenities and as financial investment. California Agriculture, 65(4): 184-191.

–Huntsinger, L. and Hopkinson, P., 1996. Sustaining rangeland landscapes: a social and ecological process. Journal of Range Management, 49: 167-173.

-Kabll, T. and Horwittz, P., 2006. A review of landholder motivations and determinants for participation in conservation covenanting programs. Environmental Conservation, 33: 11- 20.

-Kathleen, A. F., Walsh, K. C. and Levine, A. S., 2017. Opportunities and obstacles for rangeland conservation in San Diego county, California, USA.

- Khalighi, N. A. and Ghasemi, M. H., 2004. A study on the effect of socio – economic factors on farmers' participation in range management projects (North of Golestan province). Journal of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, 11(1):181-190.

-Khalili, V., Mahmoudi, J., Gholami, Sh. A. and Nazari, M. R., 2014. Factors affecting the rate of participation of beneficiaries in the implementation range management plan (Case study of summer pastures Vazroud area). Natural Ecosystems of Iran, 5(2):105 – 113.

-Kilpatricck, S., 2000. Education and training impacts on: impacts on farm management practice. Journal of agricultural education and extension, 7(2): 105 – 116.

-Kreuter, U. P., Nar, M. V., Jakson, Smith, D., Conner, J. R. and Jphnston, J. E., 2006. Property rights orientations and rangeland management objectives: Texas, Utah, and Colorado, Rangeland Ecology and Management, 59:632- 639.

-Lubell, M. N., Cutts, B. B., Rocbe, L. M., Hamilton, M. Derner, J. D., Kachergis, E. and Tate, K.W., 2013. Conservation program participation and adaptive rangeland decision–making. Rangeland Ecology and Management, 66(6):609 – 620.

-Lubell, M., 2007. Familiarity breeds trust: collective action in policy domain. Journal of Politics, 69: 237 – 250.

-Lubell, M. and Fulton, A., 2008. Local policy networks and agricultural watershed management, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 18: 673 – 696.

-Mahmodi, J. and Hakimpour, S. H., 2012. A study on the effective factors involving in social participation in Nour. Sociological Studies of Youth, 5(2): 129 –148.

-Merenlender, A. M., Huntsinger, L., Guthey, G. and Fairfax, S. K., 2004. Land trusts and conservation easements: who is conserving what for whom? Conservation Biology, 18: 65 – 76.

-Mishra, A. K. and El-Osta, H. S., 2007. Factors affecting succession decisions in family farm business: evidence from a national survey. Journal of the American society of farm managers and rural appraisers, 7: 1-10.

-Natural Resources and Watershed Management office of Fars province; Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization I.R. of Iran, Ministry of Agri-Jehad, 2008. Natural resources and watershed management development document of Fars province, horizon of 1404, 63p.

-Peterson, R. and Coppock, D. L., 2001. Economics and demographics constrain investment in Utah private grazing lands, Journal of Range Management, 54: 106-114.

-Prokopy, L. S., Floress, K., Klotthor-Weinkauf, D. and Baumgart- Getz, A., 2008. Determinants of agricultural best management practice adoption: Evidence from the literature, Journal of Soil and Land Conservation, 63(5):300.

-Risman, A. R. and Sayre, N. F., 2012. Conservation outcomes and social relations: a comparative study of private ranchland conservation easements. Society and Natural Resources, 25:523-538.

-Rahmani R. and Bakhshoodeh M., 2010. Factors affecting producer's participation in the management of rangelands in Fars province. Proceedings of the 7^th Binomial Agricultural Economic Conference of Iran, College of Agricultural, Karaj, Iran, 4-5 February: 1-16.

-Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, 2015. Ecological regions of Iran vegetation types, 194 p.

–Rogers, E. M., 1995. Diffusion of Innovations, fourth edition. Free Press, New York.

-Roohi, F., Amirnejad, H., Heidari, Q. A. and Ghorbani, J., 2010. The role of social factors on the level of participation of stakeholders in range management plans (Case study: Ghaemshahr pastures). Journal of Range Research, 4 (3): 474 - 483.

-Sorice, M. G., Conner, J. R., Kreuter, U. P. and Wilkins, R. N., 2012. Centrality of the ranching lifestyles and attitudes toward a voluntary incentive program to protect endangered species, Rangeland Ecology and management, 65:144 – 152.

-Sulak, A. and Huntsinger, L., 2002. Sierra Nevda grazing in transition: the role of forest service grazing in the foothill ranches of California. Tahoe, CA, USA: Sierra Nevada Alliance, 35 p.

-Traore, N., Landry, R. and Amara, N., 1998. On farm adoption of conservation practice: the role of farmer characteristics, perception and help hazards. Land Economics. 74 (1): 114-127.

-Tucker, M. and Napier, T. L., 2002. Preferred sources and channels of soil and water conservation information among farmers in three Midwestern Us watershed. Agriculture ecosystem and environment, 92: 297 – 313.

-Wooldridge, J. M., 2002. Introductory Econometrics. A modern approach (Upper Level economics titles), 5^th Edition, http://WWW.amazon. Com /Introductory – Econometrics, ISBN- 13:978- 1111531041.

Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research

Factors affecting ranchers' participation in the conservation activities of range management projects in Fars province

References

References

-Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, 2015. Ecological regions of Iran vegetation types, 194 p.

Volume 25, Issue 3
November 2018
Pages 644-656

Factors affecting ranchers' participation in the conservation activities of range management projects in Fars province

References

References

-Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, 2015. Ecological regions of Iran vegetation types, 194 p.

Volume 25, Issue 3November 2018Pages 644-656

Volume 25, Issue 3
November 2018
Pages 644-656