Analyzing Effective Norms on Pastoralists Participatory Behavior toward Rangeland Conservation (The Case of Study: Karimaabad watershed, Dehgolan city).

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Natural Resources, Razi University

2 Department of Rangeland Management, Agriculture and Natural Resources Unversity of Sari

Abstract

Rangeland protection in complex socio-ecological systems has uncertainties due to constant changes, therefore rangeland protection organizations need to understand the norms that affect the participatory behavior of local people. This study was conducted to analyze the norms affecting the participatory behavior of ranchers for protection of rangelands in Dehgolan city in Kurdistan province. This study is a descriptive-correlational research in which the survey technique is used to collect data. The statistical populations consisted of 418 rangers and the samples were randomly selected. The method of data collection and information was a questionnaire. The result of descriptive analysis of indicators showed that the relation between participatory behavior of ranchers and three independent variables including normative beliefs, legal norms and participatory norms, was moderate. Also, the results of Spearman correlation coefficient showed that all three independent variables have a positive and significant relationship with the dependent variable (participatory behavior of ranchers) at the level of 1%. The route analysis’s results showed that the most direct and indirect effects and the most total effect on the participatory behavior of ranchers were related to the variable of normative beliefs. It seems as much as the norms and beliefs of the ranchers regarding to rangeland protection improve, they will show more appropriate participatory behavior, in which stability of rangeland will be increased.

Keywords


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