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Mojarrad-Tometri M, Mofidi-Chelan M, Sheidai-Karkaj E, Motamedi J. Analysis and Pathology of Rangeland Ecosystem Utilization within Rangeland Management Plans in West Azerbaijan Province. مرتع 2025; 19 (4)
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1329-en.html
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1329-en.html
Urmia University
Abstract: (19 Views)
Background and objectives The latest strategy for rangeland utilization involves their allocation through rangeland management plans. Evidence indicates that rangelands have faced an increasing degradation trend in recent years. Therefore, adopting measures to improve rangeland management, reform utilization processes, and streamline the issuance of permits for rangeland management plans and livestock grazing licenses is essential, requiring thorough problem identification and obstacle resolution. This study aimed to analyze the challenges in rangeland ecosystem utilization from the perspective of stakeholders and natural resource management experts in West Azerbaijan Province.
Methodology This study is an applied research project in terms of objective and falls under qualitative research in terms of data collection. It was conducted using a survey method involving experts from the executive sector and rangeland stakeholders, employing a researcher-developed questionnaire based on the Likert scale. A Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.767 was obtained, which falls within the acceptable range. A total of 30 questionnaires were completed by executive sector experts, and 80 questionnaires were filled out by rangeland stakeholders, prioritizing rangeland management project implementers and local community experts. The Friedman test was used to rank the factors affecting rangeland management challenges across different sectors from the perspectives of both users and experts, while the Mann-Whitney test was employed to compare the viewpoints of stakeholders and experts. Finally, by consolidating the opinions of experts and stakeholders and applying factor analysis, the most significant problems and challenges in implementing rangeland management plans were identified.
Results The most significant problems related to the failure of rangeland management plans in West Azerbaijan Province, based on the Friedman test results from the experts' perspective, include: insufficient budget allocated for preparing rangeland management plans from consultants' viewpoint, lack of assurance for stakeholders to invest in rangelands, improper implementation of planned programs in rangeland management plans, and inappropriate timing for vegetation cover studies. From the stakeholders' perspective, the main challenges contributing to the failure of rangeland management plans in West Azerbaijan Province were: high costs of inputs and implementation of rangeland improvement and development programs, uneconomical size of pastoral units in rangeland plans (small rangeland areas), and inappropriate timing for vegetation cover studies. By integrating the opinions of experts and stakeholders, as well as the results of factor analysis, the key issues and challenges in rangeland management plans were identified as: inappropriate timing for vegetation cover studies, lack of attention to indigenous knowledge and stakeholders' managerial experiences and their participation in plan preparation, uneconomical size of pastoral units in rangeland plans (small rangeland areas), lack of monitoring and evaluation in plan implementation, non-compliance with technical principles in determining grazing capacity (allowable use, plant composition, etc.), insufficient budget for preparing rangeland plans from consultants' perspective, and failure to incorporate socio-economic study data in rangeland management plan formulation.
Conclusion Optimal rangeland management in West Azerbaijan Province appears to require prioritizing the development of Economic-Scale Rangeland Management Plans by the Rangeland Affairs Office. Additionally, it is essential to revise the current terms of reference for rangeland management plans and, during rangeland audits and grazing permit issuance, pay special attention to the optimal allocation per household and the minimum rangeland area required for each pastoral household to ensure multipurpose use, particularly grazing. Another strategy for optimizing rangeland management involves conducting training and extension programs for stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of rangelands, their diverse functions, and the benefits of ownership incentives under rangeland management plans, while promoting adherence to technical grazing principles. Furthermore, it is necessary to update the technical expertise of consultants and advisory firms by incorporating the latest scientific and research findings to improve the terms of reference for vegetation cover studies and rangeland type management in the preparation of rangeland management plans.
Methodology This study is an applied research project in terms of objective and falls under qualitative research in terms of data collection. It was conducted using a survey method involving experts from the executive sector and rangeland stakeholders, employing a researcher-developed questionnaire based on the Likert scale. A Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.767 was obtained, which falls within the acceptable range. A total of 30 questionnaires were completed by executive sector experts, and 80 questionnaires were filled out by rangeland stakeholders, prioritizing rangeland management project implementers and local community experts. The Friedman test was used to rank the factors affecting rangeland management challenges across different sectors from the perspectives of both users and experts, while the Mann-Whitney test was employed to compare the viewpoints of stakeholders and experts. Finally, by consolidating the opinions of experts and stakeholders and applying factor analysis, the most significant problems and challenges in implementing rangeland management plans were identified.
Results The most significant problems related to the failure of rangeland management plans in West Azerbaijan Province, based on the Friedman test results from the experts' perspective, include: insufficient budget allocated for preparing rangeland management plans from consultants' viewpoint, lack of assurance for stakeholders to invest in rangelands, improper implementation of planned programs in rangeland management plans, and inappropriate timing for vegetation cover studies. From the stakeholders' perspective, the main challenges contributing to the failure of rangeland management plans in West Azerbaijan Province were: high costs of inputs and implementation of rangeland improvement and development programs, uneconomical size of pastoral units in rangeland plans (small rangeland areas), and inappropriate timing for vegetation cover studies. By integrating the opinions of experts and stakeholders, as well as the results of factor analysis, the key issues and challenges in rangeland management plans were identified as: inappropriate timing for vegetation cover studies, lack of attention to indigenous knowledge and stakeholders' managerial experiences and their participation in plan preparation, uneconomical size of pastoral units in rangeland plans (small rangeland areas), lack of monitoring and evaluation in plan implementation, non-compliance with technical principles in determining grazing capacity (allowable use, plant composition, etc.), insufficient budget for preparing rangeland plans from consultants' perspective, and failure to incorporate socio-economic study data in rangeland management plan formulation.
Conclusion Optimal rangeland management in West Azerbaijan Province appears to require prioritizing the development of Economic-Scale Rangeland Management Plans by the Rangeland Affairs Office. Additionally, it is essential to revise the current terms of reference for rangeland management plans and, during rangeland audits and grazing permit issuance, pay special attention to the optimal allocation per household and the minimum rangeland area required for each pastoral household to ensure multipurpose use, particularly grazing. Another strategy for optimizing rangeland management involves conducting training and extension programs for stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of rangelands, their diverse functions, and the benefits of ownership incentives under rangeland management plans, while promoting adherence to technical grazing principles. Furthermore, it is necessary to update the technical expertise of consultants and advisory firms by incorporating the latest scientific and research findings to improve the terms of reference for vegetation cover studies and rangeland type management in the preparation of rangeland management plans.
Keywords: Survey, Stakeholders, Executive Experts, angeland Management Plan, Participatory Management
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/05/27 | Accepted: 2025/11/2 | Published: 2025/12/1
Received: 2025/05/27 | Accepted: 2025/11/2 | Published: 2025/12/1
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