Investigating social and organizational barriers of local communities’ participation in Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Lands project (Case study: Rigan county, Kerman province)

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 M.Sc. of Agricultural Extension, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

2 Associate Prof., Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

3 Associate Prof., Department of Rangeland Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

Abstract

This research aimed to identify barriers of local communities’ participation in Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Land Project (RFLDLP), in Rigan county of Kerman Province. The research was descriptive and based on survey technique. Using multistage random sampling method, 120 residents were selected in five villages covered by the project. Data were gathered by questionnaires that were confirmed by a panel of experts. The reliability of the applied questionnaire was confirmed by Cronbach’s Alpha (α=0.84). The findings suggested fatalism and entrust affairs to fate, problems of local communities (unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and etc.) and lack of interest in changing their current situation and their environment amongst the most important social barriers of local communities’ participation in the project. Furthermore, the important organizational barriers were the cost of participation in the project, high responsibility and demanding project work as well as difficult conditions to receive loans from banks. The results revealed significant correlations between the social barriers of local communities’ participation in project and factors including ownership of agricultural lands, amount of monthly income and number of round-trips to town. Moreover, the amount of monthly income, number of trips to town and contact with extension agents were significantly correlated with the organizational barriers of local communities’ participation in project. The results showed significant differences between views of different groups on social and organizational barriers of participation in project according to amount of monthly income, number of trips to town, loan conditions and ownership of agricultural lands.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research
Volume 26, Issue 3 - Serial Number 73
November 2018
Pages 435-446

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