Analyzing the Barriers of Participation of Local Communities in Natural Resources Projects to Deal with Dust in Khuzestan Province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran

2 Assistant Professor Department of Nature Engineering, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran

10.22034/eiap.2023.169999

Abstract

Abstract
In the years to come, the extent and severity of dust storms in southwest regions of Iran has been caused by the geographical location and specific climatic conditions. This phenomenon is one of the major environmental hazards in these areas and Khuzestan Province as the main focus of dust every year has incurred a lot of heavy costs. To this end, to deal with dust, But the major problem of this project is the lack of public participation Therefore, this research was conducted with the aim of analyzing the barriers of participation of local communities in natural resources projects to deal with dust in Khuzestan province. The statistical population of the study consisted of experts in the field of natural resources and watershed management and agriculture Jihad in Khuzestan province. Data analysis was done by Expert Choice software. Analysis of data based on paired comparisons showed that the most important criterion for examining the barriers to participation is based on the stages of participation in the decision-making phase afterwards, the steps are implemented, shared, and evaluated. In addition to comparing options on the basis of all criteria, the results showed that the most important challenges for local communities' participation in natural resource designs to deal with dust include educational obstacles. Therefore, in order to achieve sustainable participation, educational barriers should be removed, social-cultural barriers, economic barriers, technical and technical barriers in the next ranks.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Al-Busaidi, M. 2012. The struggle between nature and development: Linking local knowledge with sustainable natural resources management in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar Region, Oman. (PHD), GLASGOW, Scotland, Pp 12.
Armghan, S. 2017. Strategies to increase public participation in promoting environmental indicators in rural areas (Case study: Mallard Central District). Quarterly Journal of New Attitudes in Human Geography, 10(2): 131-150.
Avazpur, L.; Ghorbani, M. & Erfanzadeh, R. 2018. Analysis of structural characteristics of farmers' social capital in order to establish participatory rangeland management. Rangeland, 12(4): 391-400.
Brown, M.; Buckley, R.; Singer, A. & Dawson, L. 1992. Buffer zone management in Africa: searching for innovative ways to satisfy human needs and conservation objectives.
Dastorani, M. S.; Talebi, A. & Nafarzadegan, A. 2009. Assessing the importance and strategies for developing public participation in watershed management projects, Forest and Rangeland Quarterly, 127(84): 74-79.
Ekhtesasi, M. & Gohari, Z. 2013. Determining area affected by dust storms in different wind speeds, using satellite images (case study: Sistan plain, Iran). Journal of rangeland, 17: 193-202.
Elsasser, P. 2002. Rules for participation and negotiation and their possible influence on the content of a National Forest Programme. Forest Policy and Economics, 4(4), 291-300.
Falsoliman, M.; Sadeghi, H.; Haseli, M. & Amiri, F. 2017. Analysis of rangeland sustainability strategies from an organizational perspective for sustainable rural development (sample study of South Khorasan province). Quarterly Journal of Rural Research, 8(1): 38-52.
Ghafari, D. & Mostafazadeh, R. 2015. Investigation of the origin of the effects and solutions of dust phenomena in Iran. Journal of Conservation and Exploitation of Natural Resources, 4(2), 107-125.
Goudarzi, G.; Shirmardi, M.; Khodarahmi, F.; Hashemi-Shahraki, A.; Alavi, N.; Ankali, K.; Babaei, A.A.; Soleimani, Z. & Marzouni, M.B. 2014. Particulate matter and bacteria characteristics of the Middle East Dust (MED) storms over Ahvaz, Iran. Aerobiologia, 30(1): 333-337.
Goudie, A.S. 2014. Desert dust and human health disorders. Environment International, 63: 101-113.
Guy, B. 2006. People, land and water: participatory development communication for natural resource management, London, Sterling, VA:Earth Scan.Web:www.earthscan.co.uk
Heaydari. Gh. A.; Barani H.; Aghili, SM.; Ghorbani Pashakoulai, J.; Mahboubi, M. R. & Khoushfar, Gh R. 2010. The role of social capital on participation in rangeland plans based on the viewpoints of implementers of these Plans (A case study of Baladeh rangelands, North of Iran). Journal of Rangeland. 3(1): 121–137.
IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development. 2011. Rural Poverty Report 2011: New Realities, New Challenges: New Opportunities for Tomorrow’s Generation, Rome, Quintileand Quintile
Jafari A.; Kaji, H.S.; Azadi, H.; Gebrehiwot. K.; Aghamir. F. & Van Passel, S. 2018. Assessing the sustainability of community forest management: a case study from Iran. Forest Policy Econ 96:1–8
Jalao, E. R.; Wu, T. & Shunk, D. 2014. A stochastic AHP decision making methodology for imprecise preferences. Information Sciences, 270: 192-203.
Johnson, N.L.; Lilja, N. & Ashby, J.A. 2003. Measuring the impact of user participation in agricultural and natural resource management research, Agricultural Systems, Vol 78. No 2. PP: 287-306
Jomepur, M. 2003. Key Factors in the Sustainable Development Process: People, Resources, Spaces and the Role of Public Participation in It. Allameh Tabatabaei University Social Sciences Quarterly, 8(22): 103-130.
Karimi, K. & Karami Dehkordi, E. 2016. Participation of rural farmers in rangeland projects and the factors affecting it in Mahneshan city. Geography and development, 45: 181-196.
Kazemi, A. & Moghimi, B. 2018. Investigating Barriers to the Development of Women Entrepreneurship in Iran Using a Hierarchical Process. Journal of Women and Society, 9(2): 249-273.
Khalighi, N. A. & Ghasemi, TM. H. 2015. Examination of effect of economic and social factor on the level of participation of beneficiaries in range management plans in north of Tehran. Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. 11(1): 181–189. (In Persian).
Kheerajit, C. & Flor, A.G. 2013. Participatory development communication for natural resources management in ratchaburi province, Thailand. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol 103. No 1. PP: 703-709.
Khusravpur, B. & Savari, M. 2019. The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in Rural Development, Khuzestan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Publications, First Edition.
Krishnaswamy, A. 2012. Strategies and Tools for Effective Public Participation in Natural Resource Management, Journal of Ecosystems and Management, Vol 13. No 2. Pp 1-13.
Kwayu, E. J.; Sallu, S. M. & Paavola, J. 2014. Farmer participation in the equitable payments for watershed services in Morogoro, Tanzania. Ecosystem Services, 7, 1-9.
Lahijanzadeh, A. R.; Jafarzadeh, N.; Khaksar, E. & Karaimi, S. 2015. Dust in Khuzestan Province Challenges and Solutions, First International Dust Conference, Ahvaz, Shahid Chamran University. Khuzestan.
Levin, S.; Xepapadeas, T.; Crépin, A.-S.; Norberg, J.; de Zeeuw, A.; Folke, C.; Hughes, T.; Arrow, K.; Barrett, S.; Daily, G.; Ehrlich, P.; Kautsky, N.; Mäler, K.-G.; Polasky, S.; Troell, M.; Vincent, J.R. & Walker, B. 2013. Social-ecological systems as complex adaptive systems: modeling and policy implications. Environ. Dev. Econ. 18, 111–132. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1017/ S1355770X12000460.
Mahmudi, J.; Frotan, Sh. & Mahdavi, S. Kh. 2018. Factors affecting the participation of farmers in the implementation of rangeland management projects in Kiasar watershed, Sari city. Quarterly Journal of Watershed Management Research, 118: 46-59.
Mehregan, M.R. 2004. Advanced Operations Research, Academic book publishing, First Edition. Tehran.
Merdasi, Gh.; Yazdanpanah, M.; Foruzani, M. & Baradaran, M. 2018. Application of hierarchical analysis process in the analysis of agricultural systems: A case study of Shushtar city. Rural and Development Quarterly, 21(1): 1-23.
Motei Langrodi, S. H. & Sakhaie, F. 2009. Popular participation and rural development in Solgi village of Nahavand city. Quarterly Journal of Human Geography Research, 41(70): 111-128.
Muraleedharan. K. 2008. Dynamics of People Participation in Development: A Study with Special Reference to Women Participation in the Local Level Planning in Kerala, Eldis Participation Resource Guide, Handbook of Cultural Geography, Sage, London.
Namaki, SM.; Ghafouri, A.; Shadfar, S. & Shadmani, A. 2011. Analysis of the status of indigenous and official knowledge of watersheds and its role in the sustainability of a comprehensive drought system in watersheds. The First National Conference on Drought and Climate Change, Karaj, Research Center for water scarcity and Drought in Agriculture and Natural Resources. 52(1):113–124.
National Research Council. 2008. Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12434.
Nematollahi, M. J.; Kaboli, S. H.; Yazdani, M. R. & Mohammadi, Y. 2017. The mediating role of microcredit in empowering rural women and reducing the socio-economic effects of particulate matter (Case study of the South Khorasan International Carbon Sequestration Project). Environmental Erosion Research, 4(28): 102-116.
Noshad, M.; Savari, M. & Roueita, G. 2018. A hybrid AHP-TOPSIS method for prospectively modeling of ultrasound-assisted osmotic dehydration of strawberry. J Food Process Eng. e12928. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/ jfpe.12928.
Poon, J. P. & Thai, D. T. 2010. Micro ‐credit and development in northern vietnam. Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography, 92(1), 65-79.
Primmer, E. & Kyllonen., S. 2006. Goals for Public Participation Implied by Sustainable Development and the Preparatory Process of the Finnish National Forest Programme, Forest Policy and Economics, Vol. 8, No. 8, PP. 838– 853.
Rahemi Ardekani, A.; Esmaielpur, Y.; Mohammadi, Y. & Gholami, H. 2018. Factor analysis of barriers to participation of local communities in bioremediation projects and de-expression of carbon sequestration project in Fars province. Watershed management research (research and construction), 31(2): 27-40
Rahnavard, F. & Mohebbi Daligani, M. 2016. The effects of globalization on public administration in Iran, Journal of Governmental Administration (Tehran University), Vol. 8 - No.3.
Reiki, M.; Hossein Alizadeh, M. & Islami, I. 2016. Investigation of the public participation in projects of cropping pattern change in Ali-Abad Region (Golestan Province). Extension and Development of Watershed Management. 4(14):33–38.
Reiki, M. 2017. Prediction of the effects of changing the pattern of cropping on groundwater properties using Bisin network, Master›s thesis, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Year 4, Issue 14. 144 p.
Renard, Y. 1991. Institutional challenges for community-based management in the Caribbean. Nature and Resources, 27(4), 4-9.
Rezaie, R.; Vedadi, E. & Mehdost, Kh. 2012. Investigating the Factors Affecting the Participation of Villagers in Watershed Management Plans of Khomarak Watershed (Case Study of Deh Jalal). Quarterly Journal of Rural Research, 3(9): 191-221.
Rosairo, H. R. & Potts, D. J. 2016. A study on entrepreneurial attitudes of upcountry vegetable farmers in Sri Lanka. Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, 6(1), 39-58.
Sadashiva, M. 2008. Effects of civil society on urban planning and governance in Mysore, India, Doctoral Dissertation Unpublished. Technical University, Dort-mund, Germany.
Sajasi – Ghaydari, H.; Khob, Sh.; Hossaieni Kahnoj, S. R. & Moradi, K. 2018. The effects of rural economy diversification on rural livelihood resilience in Radkan rural district of Chenaran city. Quarterly Journal of Space Economics and Rural Development, 7(2): 41-70.
Salehpour Jam, A.; Sarreshtehdari, A. & Tabatabaei, MR. 2017. Prioritizing preventing factors affecting on stakeholders› participation in watershed plans based on experts› idea, case study: Watershed area surrounding city of Tehran. Watershed Engineering Management. 9(4): 441–450.
Salehpur Jam, A.; Rasuli, F.; Sarreshtehdari, A.; Mosafaie, J. & Kiakianian, M. 2018. Investigation of effective social indicators in non-participation of people in natural resource projects using AHP method and non-parametric test. Journal of Watershed Engineering and Management, 12(1): 330-339.
Samadi, M.; Darvishi Boloorani, A.; Alavipanah, S.K.; Mohamadi, H. & Najafi, M.S. 2014. Global dust Detection Index (GDDI); a new remotely sensed methodology for dust storms detection. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 12(1): 20. Doi: 10.1186/2052-336X-12-20.
Samian, M.; Asadi, M.; Ansari E. & Asadi, M. 2013. Community participation guidelines in preservation of natural resources (the case study in hamedan), Agriculture and Crop Sciences, Vol 5. No 18. PP: 2103-2110.
Sarani, V.; Shahpasand, M. & Savari, M. 2013. Analysis of barriers to entrepreneurship among the rural women in Divan-Darreh City using by grounded theory. International research journal of applied and basic sciences, 4(5), 1302-1308.
Savari, M. 2023. Explaining the ranchers’ behavior of rangeland conservation in western Iran. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 8174.
Savari, M.; Damaneh, H. E. & Damaneh, H. E. 2020. Factors influencing local people’s participation in sustainable forest management. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 13(13), 1-13.
Savari, M.; Damaneh, H. E. & Damaneh, H. E. 2022. Factors involved in the degradation of mangrove forests in Iran: A mixed study for the management of this ecosystem. Journal for Nature Conservation, 66, 126153.
Savari, M.; Ebrahimi-Maymand, R. & Mohammadi-Kanigolzar, F. 2013. The Factors influencing the application of organic farming operations by farmers in Iran. Agris on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, 5(665-2016-44970), 179-187.
Savari, M.; Naghibeiranvand, F. & Asadi, Z. 2022. Modeling environmentally responsible behaviors among rural women in the forested regions in Iran. Global Ecology and Conservation, 35, e02102.
Savari, S. & Daneshvar Ameri, Z. 2015. Rural women's empowerment in improving household food security in the Divandarreh county. Journal of Research and Rural Planning, 3(4), 107-121.
Sharifian Bahraman, A.; Barani. H.; Abedi Sarvestani, A. & Haji Molla Hosseini, A. 2018. Examination of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of exploitation of the plants (Case study: Aqqala rangelands in Golestan province). Journal of Rangeland, 12(1):1-13.
Song, Z.; Wang, J. & Wang, S. 2007. Quantitative classification of northeast Asian Dust events. Journal of Geophysical Research, 112(D4). doi:1029/2006JD007048.
Sutherland, W. J.; Adams, W. M.; Aronson, R. B.; Aveling, R.; Blackburn, T. M.; Broad, S. & Dinerstein, E. 2009. One hundred questions of importance to the conservation of global biological diversity. Conservation Biology, 23(3), 557-567.
Tahmasebi, A.M. & Sardari, F. 2010. Revisiting project of critical sources of wind erosion, suitable to prevent wind erosion in the country. Second National Congress on Wind Erosion and Dust Storms, Yazd University.
Tahmasebian, S.; Hamidiyan, M.; Saghari, M. & Momeni A. 2014. Obstacles for the participation of exploiters in the implementation of Ilam Province rangeland projects (case study: Exploits of Malekhashyeh City). 1(5):77–93.
Tan, M.; Li, X. & Xin, L. 2014. Intensity of dust storms in China from 1980 to 2007: A new definition. Atmospheric Environment, 215-222.
Tuncer, G.; Tekkaya, C.; Sungur, S.; Cakirogla, J.; Ertepinar, H. & Kaplowitz, M. 2009. Assessing preservice teacher's environment litearcy in turkey as a mean to develop teacher education programs”. International Journal of educational development, 29(4), 426-436.
Udofia, A.; Noble, B. & Poelzer, G. 2017. Meaningful and efficient? Enduring challenges to Aboriginal participation in environmental assessment. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 65 (2017) 164–174.
World Bank. 2014. Participation at Project, Program and Policy Level, Permanent URL for this page:http://go.worldbank.org/HKL3IU1T21.
Yasori, M.; Ramezan Nezhad, Y.  &Shayan, H. 2016. Assessing and analyzing the factors affecting people's participation in the rural management process with emphasis on councils (Case study of Talesh city, Asalem district). Human geography research, 48(1): 89-104.
Zarsavandi, A. & Nazarpur, A. 2010. Geostatistical study of the occurrence of walnut dust as an environmental geological phenomenon in Khuzestan province. Journal of Science, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, 25: 13-29.
Green, M. & Hulme, D. 2005. From Correlates and Characteristics to Causes: Thinking About Poverty from a Chronic Poverty Perspective, World Development, Vol. 33, No. 6, PP. 867–879.