Analyzing Biodiversity Conservation Interventions in the Sorkhabad Protected Area, Zanjan Province

Document Type : Original Article

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 Professor of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Environmental Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources, Zanjan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Zanjan, Iran

10.22034/eiap.2023.169983

Abstract

Given the emergence of environmental crises and the increasing trend of biodiversity loss, it is necessary for nations to take sustainable and appropriate measures to conserve biodiversity. This study was conducted to investigate the implementation and effectiveness of biodiversity conservation actions using a mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology. Data were collected through both semi-structured interviews (in the qualitative procedure) and structured interviews using questionnaires (in the quantitative procedure) with the specialists and researchers of organizations related to the Sorkhabad Protected Area, located in the Zanjan Province of Iran. These staff worked at provincial, township, county and sub-county levels and were selected through a snowball sampling technique. The results showed that the measures taken to conserve biodiversity can be categorized in six areas: diagnostic measures on causes of biodiversity loss, restoration and conservation actions, management measures, diversification and livelihood improvement, Extension, public awareness and knowledge improvement, and integration measures. These actions have been implemented to a very small extent and their effectiveness has been low. There is a significant relationship between the rate of implementation and the effectiveness of actions. In addition, a significantly positive relationship is indicated between these measures. It is necessary to take biodiversity management measures with a comprehensive and multi-dimensional perspective and based on strengthening managerial capacities, extension and building human and social capacities of local communities, and integrating various organizations and actors’ activities to conserve and restore ecosystems and species in protected areas.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Abdelali-Martini, M.; Amri, A.; Ajlouni, M.; Assi, R.; Sbieh, Y. & Khnifes, A. 2008. Gender dimension in the conservation and sustainable use of agro-biodiversity in West Asia. The Journal of Socio-Economics, 37(1), 365-383. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socec.2007.06.007

    Bélanger, J. & Pilling, D. 2019. THE STATE OF THE WORLD’s BIODIVERSITY FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. Rome: FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Assessments.

    Bennett, E. M.; Cramer, W.; Begossi, A.; Cundill, G.; Díaz, S.; Egoh, B. N.; ... Woodward, G. 2015. Linking biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being: three challenges for designing research for sustainability. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 14, 76-85. doi:https://doi.org/ 10.1016/ j.cosust.2015.03.007

    Borg, R.; Toikka, A, & Primmer, E. 2015. Social capital and governance: a social network analysis of forest biodiversity collaboration in Central Finland. Forest Policy and Economics, 50, 90-97. doi:https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.forpol.2014.06.008

    Bryman, A. 2016. Social research methods: Oxford university press.

    Castro, A. J.; Martín-López, B.; García-Llorente, M.; Aguilera, P. A.; López, E. & Cabello, J. 2011. Social preferences regarding the delivery of ecosystem services in a semiarid Mediterranean region. Journal of Arid Environments, 75(11), 1201-1208. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.05.013

    CBD. 2008. Biodiversity and Agriculture: Safeguarding Biodiversity and Securing Food for the World. Montreal: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

    Chan, C.; Armitage, D.; Alexander, S. M. & Campbell, D. 2019. Examining linkages between ecosystem services and social wellbeing to improve governance for coastal conservation in Jamaica. Ecosystem Services, 39, 100997. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2019.100997

    Charmaz, K. & Belgrave, L. L. 2015. Grounded Theory. In G. Ritzer (Ed.), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

    Charnley, S.; Fischer, A. P. & Jones, E. T. 2007. Integrating traditional and local ecological knowledge into forest biodiversity conservation in the Pacific Northwest. Forest Ecology and Management, 246(1), 14-28. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.03.047

    Christie, M.; Fazey, I.; Cooper, R.; Hyde, T. & Kenter, J. O. 2012. An evaluation of monetary and non-monetary techniques for assessing the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services to people in countries with developing economies. Ecological Economics, 83, 67-78. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.ecolecon.2012.08.012

    Di Falco, S.; Bezabih, M. & Yesuf, M. 2010. Seeds for livelihood: Crop biodiversity and food production in Ethiopia. Ecological Economics, 69(8), 1695-1702. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2010.03.024

    Grooten, M. & Almond, R. E. A. E. 2018. Living Planet Report 2018: Aiming higher. Retrieved from Gland, Switzerland:

    Halkos, G. E. & Jones, N. 2012. Modeling the effect of social factors on improving biodiversity protection. Ecological Economics, 78, 90-99. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2012.04.003

    IUCN. 2001. Biodiversity IN Development Strategic Approach for Integrating Biodiversity in Development Cooperation: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK for the European Commission.

    Karamidehkordi, E.; Mansorinejad, R. & Rahimian, J. 2017. Participation of Rural Communities in Decision Making, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Oak Forest trees Dieback Management in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province. Forest and Range Protection Research, 15(2), 156-175.

    Karimi, K. & Karamidehkordi, E. 2017. Participation of Rural Users in Pasture Management Plans and the Factors Effective on them in Mahneshan Township. Geography And Development Iranian Journal, 14(45), 181-196. doi:10.22111/gdij.2016.2928

    Khoshbakht, K. 2015. Research project of Sorkhabad Zanjan protected area. Retrieved from Department Of Environment

    Méndez-López, M. E.; García-Frapolli, E.; Pritchard, D. J.; Sánchez González, M. C.; Ruiz-Mallén, I.; Porter-Bolland, L. & Reyes-Garcia, V. 2014. Local participation in biodiversity conservation initiatives: A comparative analysis of different models in South East Mexico. Journal of Environmental Management, 145, 321-329. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.06.028

    Mestanza-Ramón, C.; Henkanaththegedara, S. M.; Vásconez Duchicela, P.; Vargas Tierras, Y.; Sánchez Capa, M.; Constante Mejía, D.; ... Mestanza Ramón, P. 2020. In-Situ and Ex-Situ Biodiversity Conservation in Ecuador: A Review of Policies, Actions and Challenges. Diversity, 12(8). doi:10.3390/d12080315

    Moon, K.; Marshall, N. & Cocklin, C. 2012. Personal circumstances and social characteristics as determinants of landholder participation in biodiversity conservation programs. Journal of Environmental Management, 113, 292-300. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.09.003

    Nita, A.; Ciocanea, C. M.; Manolache, S. & Rozylowicz, L. 2018. A network approach for understanding opportunities and barriers to effective public participation in the management of protected areas. Social Network Analysis and Mining, 8(1), 31. doi:10.1007/s13278-018-0509-y

    Plieninger, T.; Bieling, C.; Fagerholm, N.; Byg, A.; Hartel, T.; Hurley, P.; ... Huntsinger, L. 2015. The role of cultural ecosystem services in landscape management and planning. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 14, 28-33. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2015.02.006

    Schirpke, U.; Scolozzi, R.; Da Re, R.; Masiero, M.; Pellegrino, D. & Marino, D. 2018. Recreational ecosystem services in protected areas: A survey of visitors to Natura 2000 sites in Italy. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 21, 39-50. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2018.01.003

    Strauss, A. L. & Corbin, J. 1990. Basics of qualitative research: grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Stringer, L. C.; Scrieciu, S. S. & Reed, M. S. 2009. Biodiversity, land degradation, and climate change: Participatory planning in Romania. Applied Geography, 29(1), 77-90. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog. 2008.07.008

    1. 2018. Sustainable Development Goal 15. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg15.

    United Nations. 2021. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021. Retrieved from New York: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2021

    Villamor, G. B.; Palomo, I.; Santiago, C. A. L.; Oteros-Rozas, E. & Hill, J. 2014. Assessing stakeholders' perceptions and values towards social-ecological systems using participatory methods. Ecological Processes, 3(1), 22. doi:10.1186/s13717-014-0022-9

    Young, J. C.; Jordan, A. R.; Searle, K.; Butler, A. S.; Chapman, D.; Simmons, P. & Watt, A. D. 2013. Does stakeholder involvement really benefit biodiversity conservation? Biological Conservation, 158, 359-370. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2012.08.018

     

Environmental Researches
Volume 13, Issue 26
Recerches
March 2023
Pages 129-149

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics