Ebrahim Karimi Sangchini
Abstract
Introduction
Evaluating the implemented watershed projects and providing a perspective of their performance results provide managers and decision-makers with appropriate information for long-term planning. Therefore, by evaluating the performance of watershed projects from the perspective of experts, ...
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Introduction
Evaluating the implemented watershed projects and providing a perspective of their performance results provide managers and decision-makers with appropriate information for long-term planning. Therefore, by evaluating the performance of watershed projects from the perspective of experts, while determining the effects of the project and the factors affecting, the necessary guidelines for the optimal implementation of these projects in the future can be provided to officials and planners. In this research, in order to evaluate the implemented watershed management projects in terms of improving the spirit of public participation in the Rimeleh Watershed, the point of view of experts and users was used.
Materials and methods
Rimleh Watershed is one of the sub-basins of Kashkan River. For this purpose, after preparing the initial list of indicators, using the Delphi method and polling experts, the final list of indicators effective in improving the spirit of public participation was determined. 39 indicators were selected and classified into 6 categories. Finally, in order to prioritize the indicators, multi-indicator decision-making methods were used. All heads of rural households in this watershed were selected as the statistical population. The validity and reliability of the questionnaires were tested. According to Cochran's relationship and proportional assignment sampling method, 135 watershed dwellers were referred from the watershed dweller community. Face-to-face interviews and questionnaires were used to collect users' opinions. Friedman's test was used to rank the factors affecting people's participation from the point of view of beneficiaries. In order to evaluate from the point of view of experts, a pairwise comparison questionnaire was designed and distributed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method.
Results and discussion
Cronbach's alpha was calculated equal to 0.827 and showed the reliability of the questionnaires in the research. The compatibility rate in hierarchical analysis is less than 0.01, so the compatibility of the comparisons can be accepted. The results show that the activities of cooperative actions such as gardening, terracing, construction of concrete streams, construction of swimming pools and dredging of fountains took the most human and financial participation (about 76%). Examining indicators of participation of watershed residents in future projects showed that "increasing the level of income due to the implementation of the project in the region" (ranked 19.5) was chosen as the best indicator from the users' point of view. According to experts, the index "participation rate of watershed residents in decision-making" (with a weighted average of 0.252) was selected as the best index. The indicators of "increasing the participation of watershed residents in decision-making" and "using the capacity of other institutions in the implementation of conservation projects and attracting their participation" received the most weight, and the indicator "strengthening the participation of organizations such as cooperatives at the village level" received the least weight.
Conclusion
The results of this research show that the beneficiaries of Rimeleh Watershed have a high capacity to accept and participate in watershed management projects. It is suggested that the participation of stakeholders in future decisions and the use of participatory measures in this watershed and other watersheds are of importance. Therefore, the approach used in this research can be used as an effective method to help better understand the watershed system and also facilitate the decision-making process by watershed planners and managers and watershed stockholders. In order to evaluate the implementation of watershed projects on improving the spirit of public participation, it seems necessary to pay attention to the mentioned priorities and it is suggested to be placed on the agenda of managers and planners.
Ebrahim Karimi Sangchini; Majid Ownegh; Amir Sadoddin; Nasser Tahmasebipuor; Hossein Rezaee
Abstract
This article describes a research aiming to investigate factors affecting community participation and to predict community acceptance of vegetation-based management scenarios in the Hable-rud River Basin. The Hable-rud River Basin which is a transboundary basin is extended between Tehran and Semnan provinces ...
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This article describes a research aiming to investigate factors affecting community participation and to predict community acceptance of vegetation-based management scenarios in the Hable-rud River Basin. The Hable-rud River Basin which is a transboundary basin is extended between Tehran and Semnan provinces in Iran. In this research, vegetative management scenarios include: the current condition, terracing, saxaul plantation, riparian restoration, forage growing, bunch seeding, contour furrowing, tree plantation, grazing exclusion, seeding, drill seeding, orchard development, and agroforestry. Through an interview with the stakeholders of the basin, a predefined questionnaire was completed for each respondent separately. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were tested. On the basis of Cochran formula, 379 respondents were chosen in a stratified sampling scheme among the local communities of the basin. The factors influencing people's participation in various districts of the basin were investigated. The community acceptance level of watershed management actions was quantified using binomial probability distribution. Financial support policies of the government were identified as the most effective factor in community participation for the study area that attained the highest value in the viewpoint of people living in Sorkhe and Ivanakey districts. Community participation was evaluated in four forms including support by heart, labor support, financial support, and labor and financial support. The analysis indicates that scenarios of agroforestry and orchard development have the highest level of labor and financial support. Central Firoozkooh and Central Damavand districts have maximum labor and financial support level. The results of the binomial distribution analysis show that scenarios of agroforestry and orchard development have highest preferences among the local communities of the Hable-rud river basin. The results of this research can be used by managers and decision makers to promote soil and water resources protection as well as to promote the adoption of management actions at the watershed scale.
