@ARTICLE{Zakeri, author = {Zakeri, Emad and Moosavi, Alireza and Karimzadeh, Hamidreza and }, title = {Strategies for implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Range Management of North Khorasan Province}, volume = {14}, number = {2}, abstract ={Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Schemes have been globally used as one of the most innovative solutions to reduce environmental degradation, although little attention has been paid to its challenges in rangeland. In this study, strategic factors analytical approach was used to identify and prioritize the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats affecting the implementation of a PES approach in rangelands of North Khorasan Province. Required information was collected through direct face-to-face interview and questionnaire by 21 managers and experts. The results showed that the nature of PES schemes, payments for ecosystem service provisioning and encouraging of rangeland improvement activities with a final score of 0.25, is the most important strength factor. Severe dependence of local stakeholders on rangelands and traditional livestock farming was identified as the most important deterrent with a relative coefficient of 0.14. Also, recognizing ownership of rangelands and ecosystem services (final score of 0.19) and unusual decision making in rangeland traditional sanctums (final score of 0.15) was evaluated as the most important opportunities and threats respectively. Based on the results, it was determined that although there are many obstacles for implementation of PES approaches, but PES can be one of the effective options for improving rangeland conditions. }, URL = {http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-910-en.html}, eprint = {http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-910-en.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Rangeland}, doi = {}, year = {2020} }