Identification and Explanation of Barriers to Water Resources Protection in the Urmia Lake Basin: A Qualitative Study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Agricultural Extension, Communication and Rural Development, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

2 Department of Water Engineering, University of Urmia, Urmia, Iran

Abstract

The main purpose of this descriptive-analytical study was to identify and explain the barriers to protection of water resources in the Urmia Lake Basin. Participants in this research were key experts and informants in UL Rehabilitation Headquarters, Urmia University, Agriculture-Jihad Organizations, Regional Water Companies, Departments of Environmental Protection and Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Centers in three provinces of West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan and Kurdistan among which 19 people were selected through purposive sampling method for doing the research. Semi-structured interviews (in individual and group form) were used to collect data and the data were analyzed using MAXQDA software. The results of the study showed that barriers to water resources protection in the Urmia Lake Basin were in the form of 28 different signs among which not using the real participation of stakeholders in water resources management (among the signs related to social- cultural barriers), lack of promotion of sustainable and compatible livelihoods with water resources at the basin level (among the signs related to economic barriers), lack of sufficient coherence for decision-making between local, provincial and national levels (among the signs related to organizational- Institutional barriers), the lack of comprehensive water distribution law (among the signs related to legal-administrative barriers) and top-down management of water resources (among the signs related to management barriers) had the highest priorities compared to other signs. Finally, based on the research findings, some strategies were presented to eliminate barriers to the protection of water resources in the Urmia Lake Basin. 

Keywords

Main Subjects

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Objectives

Water has always been a vital and important resource for human societies due to its impact on ecological functions and socio-economic development programs and in the removal of cultural and religious values. The Sixth UN Sustainable Development Goal, with the understanding of the importance of water for human health and economic activity, aims to provide access to water resources for all in the next 15 years. Due to its location in the arid and semi-arid region of the world, Iran has always faced the problem of frequent droughts and lack of water resources. Undoubtedly, one of the most important signs of the water crisis in Iran in recent years is the decrease in the water level of Lake Urmia and its drying up, which has raised many concerns at the national and international levels. However, due to the importance of Lake Urmia and the need to protect and rehabilitate it, efficient management of water resources in this basin by recognizing the underlying factors, especially factors that are considered as barriers to water protection, is very important.

Methods

The research method of the current study in terms of the nature, rate and degree of control and method of data collection was quantitative, non-experimental and field research, respectively. Participants in this research were key experts and informants in UL Rehabilitation Headquarters, Urmia University, Agriculture-Jihad Organizations, Regional Water Companies, Departments of Environmental Protection and Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Centers in three provinces of West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan and Kurdistan among which 19 people were selected through purposive sampling method for doing the research. The sample size was continued until theoretical saturation; In other words, sampling went so far that no new information was obtained by continuing the research process and the collected data was a repetition of previous information. In this study, questions were asked in the form of qualitative data collection tools (i.e., research protocol) through semi-structured individual and group interviews (in the form of focus groups).

 

Findings

The results of the study indicated that one of the important barriers to the protection of water resources was legal-administrative barriers (22.11%.). In this component, the sub-categories of "incompleteness of the law of equitable distribution of water" (34.78%) and "weakness of laws and regulations for the protection of water resources" (19.57%) had the highest frequency. Organizational-institutional factors (18.09%) was another major barrier to the protection of water resources. Sub-categories "Lack of sufficient coherence for decision-making between local, provincial and national levels" (38.88%) and "Poor inter-organizational and intra-organizational coordination between the institutions in charge of the protection of Lake Urmia" (36.12%) in this component They had the highest frequency. Another barrier was the political factor (18/09). The sub-category "Wrong water instructions and policies in the lake basin" (38.88%) had the highest frequency in this component. Socio-cultural factors (16.58%) were other barriers to water protection in the Urmia Lake basin. The sub-category of "not using the real participation of stakeholders in water resources management" (44.12%) had the highest frequency in this component. Another barrier was management factors (13.57) that the sub-category of "top-down and centralized water management by the Ministry of Energy" (44.45%) in this component is more important. Compared to other cases. In addition to the mentioned barriers, economic factors (11.56%) were another barrier to the protection of water resources in Lake Urmia basin, which is a sub-category of "failure to promote sustainable and compatible livelihoods with water resources" (34.78%) in This component was the most important.

Conclusion

Eventually, according to the results of this study, existing water laws (all laws related to the ownership, operation and protection of water resources) are reviewed and transparent, decisive and fair laws considering the existing challenges of the Urmia Lake basin and involving all stakeholders and stakeholders and away from Any unilateralism with the aim of serving the public should be developed. Also, by clearly defining the role of the three provinces as well as different organizations and stakeholders in the three provinces and aligning them in order to protect water resources, reduce the existing conflict between different stakeholders and stakeholders in the three provinces and implement management Provide integrated water resources in the catchment area of Lake Urmia.

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Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Volume 54, Issue 1
March 2023
Pages 73-88

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