Causes of Conflict in Natural Resource Management from the Perspective of Stakeholders and Experts, in Sefidroud and Polroud basins, Gilan Province, Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Natural Resources, Khalkhal Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khalkhal, Iran

2 Department of Rangeland Management, Faculty of Environment, Rangeland and Watershed Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran

10.22092/ijfrpr.2022.354956.1496

Abstract

Forests and Rangelands are one of the main sources of stakeholders' Livelihood.The aim of this research is the recognition of effective factors in the conflict between the stakeholders in natural resource management.In this study, legal, managerial, exploitation, and social components were examined from the perspectives ofboth experts and stakeholders ofSefidroud and Polroud basins.173 questionnaires were completed by the officials of natural resources with the Snowball Method.The validity of the questionnaire was 0.93.The non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the views of two groups.The results show that there is significant difference between the stakeholders and experts.The most important components for increasing the conflict in this region from the perspective of stakeholders are the lack of rules, the defect in the rules,cut down trees, shortage of inhibitor, the low presence of women, low cooperation. According to the experts, lack of rules, land grabbing, lack of rangeland cooperative,dependence of people’s livelihood on nature, and low level of awareness of stakeholders and low cooperation, has been introduced.Land grabbing is one of the most challenging issues in this area, which is introduced by both groups as astrong effective factor inthe conflict.Issues related to the early grazing, overgrazing, and wood smuggling, coaling, long time grazing, the understory tillage, were not primary factors for the natural resources degradation according to the both group.From the managerial point ofview,both groups have declared that the most effective way to reduce the conflict is the enclosure of forests and rangelands.The plans ofstopping exploitation offorests are more accepted in this region

Keywords


-Abedi Sarvestani, A., 2021. Perceptions of the agents of the natural resources protection unit of Golestan province about management methods of conflict with local communities. Iranian Journal of Forest and Range Protection Research, 19(1): 141-155 (In Persian).
-Alibeygi, J., 2018. The Study of legal system of rural and tribal communities to exploit natural resources in Iran. Human and environment quaternary, 44(1): 76-93 (In Persian).
-Anabestani, A.A. and Naderi, M., 2018. The survey of challenges of environmental resources management in rural areas (Case study: Binaloud county). Journal of Geography and Environmental Hazard, 28(4): 53-70 (In Persian).
-Ansari, N., Saiyed Akhlaghi Shal, S.J. and Ghasemi, M.H., 2009. Determination of socio-economic factors on natural resources degradation of Iran. Journal of Rangeland and desert research, 15(4): 508-524 (In Persian).
-Ansari, N., Saiyed Akhlaghi Shal, S.J. and Fayaz, M., 2007. Effects of legal and organization factors, resource management and social groups on the degradation of renewable natural resources. Journal of rangeland, 1(4): 423-438 (In Persian).
-Avatefi Hemmat, M., Shamekhi, T., Zobeyri, M., Arab, D.R. and Ghazi tabatabaie, M., 2013. Forest degradation: an investigation of forestry organization experts and local herders’ mental models. Journal of forest and wood products, 66(1): 39-54(In Persian).
-Barnett, J., 2000. Destabilizing the environment-conflict thesis. Review of International Studies, 26: 271-288.
-Bayramov, A., 2017. Review: Dubious nexus between natural resources and conflict. Journal of Eurasian Studies, 9(1): 72-81.
-Bond, J., 2014. A holistic approach to natural resource conflict: The case of Laikipia County, Kenya. Journal of Rural Studies, 34: 117-127.
-Cap-Net., 2005. Conflict resolution and negotiation skills for integrated water resources management. International Network for Capacity Building in Integrated Water Resources Management, 121p.
-Cochran, W., 1977. Sampling Techniques. John Wiley and Sons Press, New York, 422p.
-FAO, 2000. Conflict and Natural Resource Management. Rome, 22p.
-Fayazi, M., 2009. Perceived conflict and its management styles. Journal of Transformation Management, 1(2): 90-110.
-Ghasemi, M. and Karamidehkordi, E., 2017. Analyzing stakeholder’s conflict network in natural resources conversation and exploitation: Case study: the Dorahan and Cheshme Ali watershed. Iranian journal of range and desert research, 24(1): 56-39 (In Persian).
-Ghasemi, M., Karamidehkordi, E. and Ebrahimi, A., 2018. Analyzing social actors' conflict in natural resources management and its impact on rural communities (Case study: Borujen county). Journal of Rural Research, 8(4): 635-648 (In Persian).
-Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation cooperation, 2013. Manual: 3 step for working in fragile and conflict-affected situations (WFCS), Swisspeace, Available online at https://assets.helvetas.ch/ downloads/2013_hsi_ anual_3_steps_wfcs.pdf, checked on 11/28/2016.
-Hubert., N., 2021. The nature of peace: How environmental regulation can cause conflicts. Journal of World Development, 141: 1-12.
-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.
-Jahdi, R., Darvishsefat, A.A. and Badripour, H., 2020. Wildfire risk and exposure modeling using geographic information system in Khalkhal and Kowsar municipalities. Journal of Spatial Analysis Environmental Hazards, 7(3): 79-94 (In Persian).
-Janatichenar, M.A. and Kolahi, M., 2018. The conflict between ranchers and natural resources management. 7th National Conference on Rangeland and Rangeland Management of Iran, 8-9 May 2018, Alborz, pp. 1-17 (In Persian).
-Karamidehkordi, E. and Babaee, R., 2018. Analyzing rural women's information needs for sustainable natural resources management (A case study in the ghezel tapeh watershed in Zanjan province). Iran Agricultural Extension and Education Journal, 14(1): 163-184 (In Persian).
-Kolahi, M., 2019. Environmental knowledge: from knowledge to ability. Agricultural Education Research Press, Tehran, 159p (In Persian).
-Kolahi, M., 2021. Natural resources stakeholders. Journal of Water and Sustainable Development, 18(1): 19-30 (In Persian).
-Kronenburg García, A., 2017. Exploring the ‘layeredness’ of recurring natural resource conflicts: The role of Loita Maasai leadership in the Naimina Enkiyio Forest conflicts in Kenya. Land Use Policy, 65: 66-77.
-Mahmoodi, J., Mirbozorgi, S.A., Heidari, Gh. and Rayati, M., 2012. Indicators affecting the grazing management project in Mazandaran summer rangelands from the perspective of natural resources experts. Journal of Natural Ecosystem of Iran, 2(3): 49-59 (In Persian).
-Marvi Mohajer, M.R., 2005. Silviculture. Tehran University Press, Tehran, 387p (In Persian).
-Mohseni, H., 2017. Environmental justice and protection of forest in criminal unification judgment of supreme court. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Studies, 4(1): 85-109 (In Persian).
-Rahmani, A., 2018. Managment of rangelands requires the development of a new road map. Iran Nature, 3(3): 70-77 (In Persian).
-Rahmani, A., 2019. Investigation on the issue of "fire" in the country's natural resources. Iran Nature, 4(1): 57-77 (In Persian).
-Reichel, C., Frömming, U.U. and Glaser, M., 2009. Conflicts between stakeholder groups affecting the ecology and economy of the Segara Anakan region. Regional Environmental-Change, 9(4): 335-343.
-Rudgarmi, P., 2020. Investigation on the legal problems in natural resources conservation in Iran. 10th National Conference on Environment, Energy and Sustainable Natural Resources, 8-9 july, Tehran, 14p (In Persian).
-Tatar, M., Papzan, A.H. and Ahmadvand, M., 2018. Agricultural water conflict management in gawshan basin: solutions based on cooperation strategy. Iran Agricultural Extension and Education Journal, 14(1): 91-111 (In Persian).
-Vesco, P., Dasgupta, S., De Cian, E. and Carraro, C., 2020. Natural resources and conflict: A meta-analysis of the empirical literature. Ecological Economics, 172: 1-15.