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مرتع 2026, 20(1): 69-83 |
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Zamanpour H, Azarnivand H, Arzani H, Ghorbani M. Examining the Challenges of Multi-Purpose Use of Rangeland Using Social Network Analysis (Case Study: Shah Alborz Rangeland, Taleghan Province). مرتع 2026; 20 (1) :69-83
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1164-en.html
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1164-en.html
Abstract: (895 Views)
Background and Objective: Multiple-use management enhances the value of ecosystem services by enabling the coexistence of diverse activities, such as livestock grazing and ecotourism. Shah Alborz rangeland possesses considerable potential for multiple-use management due to its rich ecotourism attractions, including plains, rivers, caves, and other natural landscapes, although livestock grazing remains its dominant land use. However, implementing a multiple-use management approach faces numerous institutional and governance challenges. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the institutional challenges associated with ecotourism development, propose appropriate strategies for promoting ecotourism, and map the stakeholder network involved in the management of Shah Alborz rangeland.
Methodology: This study integrated stakeholder analysis with social network analysis (SNA) to evaluate the interactions among 23 stakeholders involved in ecotourism development in the rural areas of Shah Alborz. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to stakeholders and rangeland users from four villages in Taleghan County. Descriptive statistics were first calculated to summarize respondents' perceptions. At the institutional level, organizations involved in ecotourism management were identified and surveyed using the snowball sampling method. Social network data were analyzed using UCINET 6 software, and the corresponding network graphs were generated using NetDraw.
Results: Approximately 22% of respondents considered the job security of rangeland pastoralists to be high. In contrast, 60.7% believed that local communities' opinions had been incorporated into the planning and design of grazing management projects to only a low or very low extent. At the macro level, the institutional network exhibited a density of 22%, reciprocity of 42%, and transitivity of 17%, indicating weak institutional cohesion and an uneven concentration of power among organizations. At the micro level, the Governorship (FA-TA) exhibited the highest values of degree, closeness, and betweenness centrality, whereas the District Administration (BA-KH) had the lowest centrality values. The findings further revealed that tourism development in Taleghan is primarily influenced by the Governorship, the Police Department, and the Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts.
Conclusion: The weak structural characteristics of the institutional network at the macro level reflect a low level of social capital among organizations involved in rangeland management. The Governorship occupies the most influential position within the network because it maintains extensive relationships with other institutions, while many organizations also rely on it for communication and coordination. Consequently, it has greater social influence and is better positioned to facilitate rangeland tourism development and strengthen collaboration with local stakeholders. Overall, the limited social capital and inadequate coordination among institutions may hinder the development of sustainable rangeland tourism by reducing opportunities for collective action, shared interests, and alignment with long-term development strategies.
Methodology: This study integrated stakeholder analysis with social network analysis (SNA) to evaluate the interactions among 23 stakeholders involved in ecotourism development in the rural areas of Shah Alborz. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to stakeholders and rangeland users from four villages in Taleghan County. Descriptive statistics were first calculated to summarize respondents' perceptions. At the institutional level, organizations involved in ecotourism management were identified and surveyed using the snowball sampling method. Social network data were analyzed using UCINET 6 software, and the corresponding network graphs were generated using NetDraw.
Results: Approximately 22% of respondents considered the job security of rangeland pastoralists to be high. In contrast, 60.7% believed that local communities' opinions had been incorporated into the planning and design of grazing management projects to only a low or very low extent. At the macro level, the institutional network exhibited a density of 22%, reciprocity of 42%, and transitivity of 17%, indicating weak institutional cohesion and an uneven concentration of power among organizations. At the micro level, the Governorship (FA-TA) exhibited the highest values of degree, closeness, and betweenness centrality, whereas the District Administration (BA-KH) had the lowest centrality values. The findings further revealed that tourism development in Taleghan is primarily influenced by the Governorship, the Police Department, and the Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts.
Conclusion: The weak structural characteristics of the institutional network at the macro level reflect a low level of social capital among organizations involved in rangeland management. The Governorship occupies the most influential position within the network because it maintains extensive relationships with other institutions, while many organizations also rely on it for communication and coordination. Consequently, it has greater social influence and is better positioned to facilitate rangeland tourism development and strengthen collaboration with local stakeholders. Overall, the limited social capital and inadequate coordination among institutions may hinder the development of sustainable rangeland tourism by reducing opportunities for collective action, shared interests, and alignment with long-term development strategies.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2022/09/15 | Accepted: 2023/04/10 | Published: 2026/04/4
Received: 2022/09/15 | Accepted: 2023/04/10 | Published: 2026/04/4
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