Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Abstract
This research was aimed to prioritize the factors affecting rangeland utilization as well as comparing 60 rangelands with/without Range Management Plan (RMP) using application of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Initially, the criteria for rangeland utilization were prioritized using Delphi method and Expert Choice software. Then, 60 rangelands (with/without RMP) were compared to each other. Document and field research methods were used to collect the data. For this purpose, a questionnaire was designed and in the field studies, direct sampling was conducted to calculate the rangeland production, condition, and trend while completing the questionnaires in the statistical population. According to the results, significant differences were found for rangeland production, trend, condition, and early grazing in comparison of rangelands with RMP and those with no RMP (p<0.01). In addition, significant differences were found for the number of available livestock to the allowed number of livestock, encroachment into the rangeland, contention and conflict among rangeland beneficiaries and the beneficiaries' attitude towards range management plan (RMP) in the studied rangelands (p<0.05).
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