Perceptions of the agents of the natural resources protection unit of Golestan province about management methods of conflict with local communities

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Faculty member- Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Abstract

Protection of natural resources is an important task that is the responsibility of the country's Natural Resources Protection Unit (NRPU). The purpose of NRPU is to protect natural resources more effectively due to the attacks on rangers and foresters by offenders, wood smugglers, and poachers. One of the problems regarding NRPU is how to manage conflicts with local communities relating protection of natural resources. Various strategies exist for resolving conflicts addressed in the present study. The study population consisted of official agents (180 people) and nonofficial agents (variable in number) of the NRPU in Golestan province that 264 of them were randomly investigated. The results showed that in the range of 1 to 5, the mean score of conflict between the agents of NRPU and local people is 3.10, which could be assessed as moderate to high. “Solution-oriented, "control", and "avoidance" methods have also been used to manage conflicts, respectively. Official agents as well as city dwellers, have increasingly used the "avoidance" method. With increasing of the level of education of the NRPU agents, the use of “control” method has increased, but older agents have used this method less. It is suggested that agents with lower levels of education and older age be used for minor violations and disputes that do not require harsh treatment with local people. In addition, it is recommended that individual and group communication skills training courses be provided for NRPU agents to improve the dialogue between natural resources conservation agents and the public.

Keywords


-Abbasi, E., 2018. 115,000 cases related to natural resources were filed in the judiciary. Available at: https://www.frw.ir/02/fa/news/news.aspx?nwsid=50703 (In Persian).
-Abedi Sarvestani, A. and Ingram, V., 2020. Perceptions and practices of rural council participatory forest governance: Closed co-management in Chehel-Chay, Iran. Forest Policy and Economics, 117, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2020.102202.
-Acharya, G.R. and Yasmi, Y., 2008. Conflict management strategy adopted in community forestry of Nepal: A study of four community forests in midwestern region. Banko Janakari, 18(2): 44-52.
-Afsari, A.A., 2006. Investigating the relationship between organizational conflict management and the performance of Tehran municipal managers. Master Thesis, Higher Institute of Management Education and Research and Planning of Tehran Province, 136p (In Persian).
-Besada, H.G., 2021. Governance, conflict, and natural resources in Africa: Understanding the Role of Foreign Investment Actors. Kingston, McGill-Queen's University Press, 312p.
-Butler, J.K., 1994. Conflict styles and outcomes in a negotiation with fully-integrative potential. International Journal of Conflict Management, 5(4): 309-325.
-Chorli, M.R., Shahkohi, E., Hasanzadeh-Namaghi, M., Vatani, A. and Tofighi, I.M., 2016. Knowing Golestan province. Tehran, Textbook Publishing Company, 168p.
-CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research), 2018. Forests and conflict. Available at: https://www.cifor.org/publications/Corporate/FactSheet/forests_conflict.htm.
-Conrad, C. and Scott, M.P., 2002. Strategic organizational communication in a global economy. New York, Earl Mcpeek, 520p.
-Counts, A., 2003. Perceived effectiveness of conflict management strategies in dating relationships. M.A Thesis, East Tennessee State University, 91p.
-Daft, R.D., 2002. Fundamentals of organization theory and design. Translator: Arab, M., Parsaeian. A. Tehran, Cultural Research Office, 664p (In Persian).
-Derkyi, M., Roz-Tonen, M.A.F., Kyereh, B. and Dietz, T., 2014. Fighting over forest: Toward a shared analysis of livelihood conflicts and conflict management in Ghana. Society and Natural Resources, 27(3): 281-298.
-Dubrin, A.J., 2004. Applying psychology: Individual and organizational effectiveness. New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 443p.
-Fayazi, M., 2009. Perceived conflict and its management styles. Journal of Transformation Management, 1(2): 90-110 (In Persian).
-Fayazi, R., 2018. Dispute management (conflict). Available at: www.emodir.com (In Persian).
-Gibson, G.W. and Hodges, R.M., 1991. Organizational communication: A managerial perspective. New York, Harper College, 494p.
-Goleman, D., 1995. Emotional intelligence: why it can matter more than IQ? New York, Bantam Books, 352p.
-Greenberg, J. and Baron, R.A., 1997. Behavior in organization. New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 720p.
-Hajad, V., 2021. The dilemma of natural resources: Economic opportunities and challenges post-conflict. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 11(1): 426-432.
-Hersey, P. and Blanchard, K.H., 2003. Organizational behavior management: Using human resources. Translator: Kabiri, Q. Tehran, Islamic Azad University, 224p (In Persian).
-Hindi, Ch., 1996. The age of contradiction. Translator: Tolooa, M. Tehran, Rasa Cultural Services Institute, 402p (In Persian).
-Ibarra, S.N., 2021. Addressing a complex resource conflict: Humans, sea otters, and shellfish in Southeast Alaska. PhD Dissertation, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 219p.
-Ismaili, M. 1995. Rooting for intra-organizational conflict in Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch. Master Thesis, Islamic Azad University, Research Sciences Branch, 112p (In Persian).
-Junonishi, R., 2006. In search of Asian ways of managing conflict, a comparative study of Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam. International Journal of Conflict Management, 17: 203-225.
-Khabarban, 2021. News of natural resources protection unit. Available at: https://khabarban.com/w (In Persian).
-Machado, F., 2001. Managing conflict in general practice. Available at: http://www.abersychan.demon.co.uk.
-Mirkamali, S.M., 1992. Conflict management. Journal of Management Knowledge, 19: 48-59 (In Persian).
-Moghimi, S.M., 2008. Organization and management: research approach. Tehran, Termeh Publications, 566p (In Persian).
-Muharram, Z., 2003. The relationship between conflict management styles and the performance of public education center managers. Master Thesis, Governmental Management Training Center, 132p (In Persian).
-Najafbagy, R., 1987. Problems of Effective cross-cultural communication and conflict resolution between more and less-developed nations. In: Paelinck, J.H. Axiomatics and Pragmatics of Conflict Analysis. UK, Gower, 316p.
-Najafibigi, R., 2004. Organization and management. Tehran, Scientific Publications of Islamic Azad University, 360p (In Persian).
-Rahim, AM., 1986. Managing conflict in organization. New York, Praeger, 312p.
-Rahim, M.A., 1986. Referent role and styles of handling interpersonal conflict. Journal of Social Psychology, 126: 79-86.
-Rasooli, S.M., Saatchian, M., Mozafari, S.A.A. and Qanbarpour-Nosrati, A., 2014. Relationship between conflict management styles and organizational performance of the heads of Iranian sports federations. Research in Sports Management and Motor Behavior, 4(8): 87-97 (In Persian).
-Reich, W.A.; Wagner-Westbrook, B.J. and Kressel, K., 2007. Actual and ideal conflict styles and job distress in a health care organization. The Journal of Psychology, 141(1): 5-15.
-Robbins, A. and Sheroder, D., 2003. Fundamentals of management. Translator: Arab, M. and Rafi'i. M.A. Second edition. Tehran, Cultural Research Office, 464p (In Persian).
-Robbins, A., 1998. Fundamentals of organizational behavior. Translator: Kabiri. Gh. Fourth edition. Tehran, Islamic Azad University, 403p (In Persian).
-Robbins, S.P., 2006. Organizational behavior. New Jersey, Prentice- Hall Inc., 759p.
-Sabzali, Q., 2017. Public participation is the most effective factor in preserving natural areas. Available at: http://frw.org.ir/00/Fa/News/News.aspx?nwsId=45582 (In Persian).
-Schermerhorn, J.R.; Hunt, J.G. and Osborn, R.N., 1998. Basic organizational behavior. New York, Wiley, 696p.
-Shukri, Kh., 2004. Investigating the management styles of managers and its relationship with their performance. Master Thesis, Higher School of Management Education and Planning of Tehran Province, 126p (In Persian).
-Skutsch, M.M., 2000. Conflict management and participation in community forestry. Agroforestry Systems, 48(2): 189-206.
-Stere, L., 1981. Overhauling Americans business management. The New York Times Magazine, 41: 20-24.
-Wassie, S.B., 2020. Natural resource degradation tendencies in Ethiopia: A review. Environmental System Research, 9(1): 1-29.
-Zachrisson, A. and Lindhal, K.B., 2013. Conflict resolution through collaboration: preconditions and limitations in forest and nature conservation controversies. Forest Policy and Economics, 33: 39-46.
-Zarneveshteh-Farahani, M.T., 2001. A study of leadership styles and conflict management strategies in hospitals of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences. Master Thesis, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, 98p (In Persian).
-Zengzang, M., 2007. Conflict management styles as indicators of behavioral pattern in business negotiation: The impact of contextualism in two countries. International Journal of Conflict Management, 18: 260-279.