Analyzing the Challenges and Strategies for Public Participation in Environmental Conservation Projects in Rural Areas

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD. Graduated, Agricultural Extension and Education, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Professors, Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Development, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

3 PhD. Candidate, Agricultural Extension and Education, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

    Natural resources are valuable gifts that God has granted to humane who benefit from it carelessly. Proper and fair use of these resources is human task that any person directly or indirectly associated with it. Thus, considering public participation in environmental conservation is a matter of great concern. In this regard, this study aimed to examine the challenges and strategies for attracting public participation in environmental conservation projects in rural areas. A survey was conducted among intermediate managers of the department of natural resources and watershed of Zanjan province (N=132). 105 of managers were surveyed based on random sampling. The main tool of this study was questionnaire; face validity of which was approved by a panel of experts. For determining the reliability of questionnaire, Cronbaches' alpha coefficient was calculated which for the main scale of questionnaire (α>0.7). Analysis of data was done with SPSS/windows. The results of factor analysis indicated that from respondents' viewpoint challenges to public participation in environmental conservation projects were categorized in four-factor including; "lack of projects quick impact", "lack of familiarity with the techniques of participation," "the lack of legal criteria for people and government agent about participation" and "lack of attention to people's demands". Totally, these four factors could explain 65.78 percent of the total variance. Furthermore, from respondents' viewpoint strategies of public participation in environmental conservation projects were categorized in the three factors including: "counseling with people and participatory monitoring", "informing people about the project" and "financial support and incentives" that totally explained 69.10 percent of total variance.

Keywords

References

  1. Abdollahi, M. & Fariadi, M. (2010). Legal Challenges of Environment Protection Organization of Iran. Journal of Environmental Science, 7(4), 143-180.( In Farsi)
  2. Akabayashi, A. (2003). Report of the project strategies for social consensus building on the policies concerning Advanced Medical Technologies. Tokyo: Fuji research Institute Corporation.
  3. Akbari, H & Eskandari, H. (2017). Strategies for Improving Public Participation in Natural Resources Areas in Kerman Province. International Congress of Interdisciplinary Science Research in Urban Planning and Architecture, Tabriz. (In Farsi)
  4. Amighmohsen, F. (2006). Environmental ethics in Islam. Publication by Ostad Motahari.Tehran. (In Farsi)
  5. Androdi, M. (2001). Principles and methods of environmental management. Publish by Congere. Tehran.(In Farsi)
  6. Bahreyni, S.h. & Maknoon, R. (2001). Sustainable Urban Development from Mind to Action. Journal of Environmental Studies, 27, 41-60.
  7. Brent Lackey, S. Freshwater, D. & Rupasingha, A. (2002). Factors Influencing Local Government Cooperation in Rural Areas: Evidence from the Tennessee Valley. Economic Development Quarterly, 16 (2), 138-154.
  8. Chambers, J. & Blackburn, W. (1996). The scope for effective local participation in the economic development and planning of rural areas and regions. Washington, U.S.A.
  9. Ericson, Jenny A. (2004). A participatory approach to conservation in the cala kmul Biosphere Reserve. Campeche, Mexico, Landscape urban planning.

10. Es’haghi, S.R., Rezaei, R., Hedjazi, S.Y., Gholami, H. & Ghadimi, A. (2012). Analysis of Effective Communicative and Information Factors on Attracting Public Participation in Conservation of Natural Resources in Zanjan Province, Iran. International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences, 3 (3), 584-593.

11. Fisher, M.R. (1994). On the Road from Environmental Racism to Environmental Justice. Villanova Environmental Law Journal, 5, 449.

12. Forests, Range & Watershed Management Organization of Iran. (2013). Natural Resources and Watershed Management Plan in 1404. Office of Planning and Budget, Publication by Pone. (In Farsi)

13. IUCN/UNEP/WWF (1980). World Conservation Strategy Living Resource Conservation for Sustainable Development. Switzerland: IUCN.

14. Khadka, D. & Nepal, S.K. (2010). Local Responses to Participatory Conservation in Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. Journal of Environmental Management, 45, 351–362.

15. Krywkow, J. & Hare, M. (2008). Participatory process management. International Congress on Environmental Modeling and Software, EMSs, pp. 888-899.

16. Langrodi, H. & Sakhaie, F. (2009). Public participation and rural underdevelopment in rural Solgi of Nahavand city. Journal of Human Geography, 70, 111-128. (In Farsi)

17. Makhdoum, M.F. (2001). Fundamental of Landuse Planning. 4th Edition. Tehran: Tehran University Publication. (In Farsi)

18. Moghadam, H. (1991). Participation in Rural Development, Sociology of Development Conference, publication by Samt, Tehran. (In Farsi)

19. Okly, P. & Maresden, D. (1991). Participatory approaches in rural development, translation Mansour Mahmoudnejad, Publication by Research Center of Rural Affairs, Tehran.(In Farsi)

20. Pilot Environmental Performance Index (2006). Global Metrics for the Environment (The Environmental Performance Index ranks countries’ performance on high-priority environmental issues). www.epi.yale.edu

21. Porkhabaz, A. (2002). The major environmental disturbances century. Publication by Nashr.(In Farsi)

22. Richardson, T. (2005). Environmental assessment and planning theory: four short stories about power, multiple rationality, and ethics. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 25, 341-365.

23. Sheikhhasani, GH. (2010). The role of social and economic participation of villagers in rural development projects Case Study:  Nesa Village. Journal of Land Geography, 7(28), 109-125.(In Farsi)

24. Stevens, M.R., Berke, P.R. & Song.Y. (2010). Public Participation in Local Government Review of Development Proposals in Hazardous Locations: Does it Matter, and What Do Local Government Planners Have to Do with It? Journal of Environmental Management, 45, 320–335.

25. Talley, J. L., Schneider, J., & Lindquist, E. (2016). A simplified approach to stakeholder engagement in natural resource management: the Five-Feature Framework. Ecology and Society 21(4):38.

26. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). (2000), Strategic Environmental Assessment in South Africa: Guideline Document,Department of Environmental Affairs andTourism, Pretoria.

27. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). (2004), Strategic Environmental Assessment; Integrated Environmental Management, Information Series 10, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), Pretoria.

28. Vari, A. (2004). International Water resources association Water international. Hungarian Academy Of Sciences Hungary, 29(3).

Veisi, H. (2007). Barriers to public participation in environmental protection. Conference on Systems Engineering, Planning and Environmental Management. Tehran. (In Farsi

Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Volume 51, Issue 1
February 2020
Pages 51-64

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics