Specialists’ views on local communities’ participation in the biodiversity conservation interventions of the Sorkhabad Protected Area in the Zanjan Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Graduate of Agricultural Development, Department of Agricultural Extension, Communication and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, the University of Zanjan, Iran

2 Associate Prof., Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran

10.22092/ijfrpr.2023.360284.1556

Abstract

Participatory management is one of biodiversity conservation approaches. This research assesses specialists’ views on local communities’ participation in biodiversity conservation activities using a mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology. Before quantitative research, an exploratory qualitative stage was conducted and a sample of 32 specialists from the Environment Administration, the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Administration, the Agriculture-Jahad Organization, and the Research and Education Center of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the Zanjan Province, Zanjan and Tarom Townships, and their relevant counties and sub-counties of the Sorkhabad Protected Area, were selected through the purposeful sampling technique. Qualitative data collection was done through semi-structured interviews about indicators of biodiversity conservation activities in the region. In quantitative part, a descriptive-correlational survey was conducted to collect data by a self-completion questionnaire. The results showed that the communities have mostly participated in biodiversity conservation activities in a passive way (manipulated involvement) and at the informing level, while the higher levels of participation have been neglected. Moreover, a significantly positive relationship existed between participation in knowledge-improving measures and its implementation, and between the participation in diversification and livelihood-improving measures and its implementation. It is essential to implement biodiversity conservation and management by a comprehensive and multi-dimensional governance, strengthening local communities’ participation, and coordinating the activities of various organizations and actors to conserve and restore ecosystems and species of protected areas.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 04 November 2022
  • Revise Date: 23 February 2023
  • Accept Date: 25 February 2023

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