Mansour Ghanian; Milad Taqipour; Abas Abdeshahi; Masomeh Forouzani
Abstract
Environmental impact assessment is one of the acceptable ways to achieve sustainable development goals and can, as a planning tool, identify the potential environmental impacts that arise as a result of the implementation of constructional projects and provide rational options for their resolution. Undoubtedly, ...
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Environmental impact assessment is one of the acceptable ways to achieve sustainable development goals and can, as a planning tool, identify the potential environmental impacts that arise as a result of the implementation of constructional projects and provide rational options for their resolution. Undoubtedly, continuous evaluation of such projects can bring numerous and valuable achievements for policy makers, planners and those in charge of operation and maintenance, in order to implement improvements and improve the efficiency of the measures taken and prevent the waste of resources in future projects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the environmental effects of land reclamation project in Khuzestan province within the Mianab irrigation and drainage network of Shushtar and for this purpose the ICOLD matrix method was used. In this method, the effect of each project activity on environmental components (ecological, physical and socio-economic) in the two phases of structural and operational was measured. The results indicate that the implementation of the project is preferable to its non-implementation, as the total consequences of the implementation of the project on the surrounding environment are positive (+108 points). Among the consequences of the project, the socio-economic environment has the most positive effects (176+ points) And the ecological environment with -49 has had the most negative impact on the environment. According to the findings of the study, the implementation of land reclamation plan in Khuzestan province within the Mianab irrigation and drainage network of Shushtar is environmentally appropriate and its continued implementation in neighboring lands is unrestricted provided that environmental standards are met.
Rural Planning
Mansour Ghanian; latif mohammadzadeh; Afshin Marzban; Somayeh Shadkam
Abstract
IntroductionOne of the important factors for success in organizing and managing natural resources, including agricultural lands, is identifying stakeholders and studying their behavior. An analysis of the potential, roles, demands, information, and knowledge of project stakeholders to interact and coordinate ...
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IntroductionOne of the important factors for success in organizing and managing natural resources, including agricultural lands, is identifying stakeholders and studying their behavior. An analysis of the potential, roles, demands, information, and knowledge of project stakeholders to interact and coordinate with them will greatly help to estimate their expectations. Without accurate and complete identification of all stakeholders in the management and organization of agricultural land, the logical and acceptable results of decisions cannot be assured. As such, stakeholder involvement and participation is considered the cornerstone of planning and organizing any work, so that it is one of the tools for achieving sustainability and democracy. Stakeholder involvement and participation is considered the cornerstone of planning and organizing any work, so that it is one of the tools for achieving sustainability and democracy. Stakeholder participation leads to the use of common potential, knowledge, and values, which reduce differences in opinions and increase trust between people and officials. This study was conducted to design a framework and identify priorities for organizing land use in the southern basin of Lake Urmia using "stakeholder analysis" method. Data and MethodThis study, with a sociological approach, attempted to analyzing the behavior of users in the field of land use planning in the south basin of Urmia Lake. Hence, this research was closed in 2 steps. First, to understand the farmers' behavior, a survey research will conduct. The research statistical population were the all farmers in the south basin of Urmia lake who were 153 farmers were selected as the sample by a randomized cluster sampling method in the second stage. The sample size is predicted using Cochran formula. The instrument for collecting data was a questionnaire which its validity was confirmed by a panel of experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α=0.74). The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Finally, the "stakeholder analysis" method was used to summarize the results. To perform this section, 28 specialists were selected purposefully according to the subject and objectives of the research. Results and DiscussionResults showed that behaviors of "change in the method of planting crops", "change of land use" and "use of native cultivars", in the group of farmers with change of land use, and behaviors of "seasonal migration of the head of the household to another place of work", "increase of use" "Chemical fertilizers and pesticides" and "permanent migration to the city" in the group of farmers without land use change are in the first to third priorities. Also, according to the results, agricultural land management is one of the topics that have received special attention and many stakeholders. More importantly, in most sectors, farmers have been identified as the main and key stakeholders. Therefore, these stakeholders can be included in the group of influencers. It can be concluded that stakeholders are divided into two groups. The first group comprises only those who are directly affected and benefit from agricultural land-use management. Other groups of actors are individuals or groups who, in addition to benefiting from their interests, are influential. Also, Land use change decisions of farmers in the south basin of the Urmia Lake essentially aimed at improving farmers’ economic status through collective actions, such as shifting to animal husbandry a, cultivating products with a shorter growth period changes in planting method and changes in irrigation system. Therefore, improving the livelihoods and food security of farmers is a key in Iran, like other developing countries. In addition to this component, the lack of competent professionals and managers has led to a tougher challenge. ConclusionThe results obtained in the stakeholder analysis showed that farmers at the farm level are key stakeholders and the main pillar in the design, presentation, and implementation of conservation programs to organize lands, along with the Jihad Agricultural Organization and other government organizations. Designing a framework and identifying priorities for organizing land use as a development approach to use all available capacities requires attention to the institutional dimensions of development, especially the analysis of key stakeholders and the use of various tools by expanding coordination and interaction. The important result is that local communities, especially local leaders, see themselves as partners in the program, which leads to cooperation in the program as well as strengthening their weaknesses. Also, the results showed that farmers are at the heart of land management, particularly in rural and agricultural areas. However, the results show that their behavior in the face of environmental change is more of a personal decision and to the extent of the capacity to exploit individually rather than as a group or following a regular schedule. This makes the existing challenge more critical than before.
Rural Planning
Mansour Ghanian; Omid M. Ghoochani; latif mohammadzadeh
Abstract
IntroductionClimate change is one of the main environmental challenges facing the world today and the results of studies and forecasts indicate that it is ever expanding. These changes, in addition to the environment, directly and indirectly affect the social, cultural and economic sectors of the countries ...
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IntroductionClimate change is one of the main environmental challenges facing the world today and the results of studies and forecasts indicate that it is ever expanding. These changes, in addition to the environment, directly and indirectly affect the social, cultural and economic sectors of the countries of the world. In recent years due to observing evidences of climate change in hydrological variables, concerns have been arisen regarding variations of renewable water resources under climate change in developing countries. Among various types of economic sectors, agriculture is one of the most sensitive economic sectors in terms of climate change phenomena such as temperature rise and evapotranspiration, decreasing precipitation and melting, reducing surface and underground water resources, and etc. Therefore, the effects of climate change on agriculture have become one of the hottest academic topics around the world. In this regards, farmers are always considered as the most vulnerable groups against global climate change, and the vulnerability of them to the region and even beyond them can be examined. Therefore, this study, with a sociological approach, attempted to identify factors affecting the intention of farmers to adapt to climate change. In this regard, due to the role of traditional beliefs in the management of agricultural affairs in rural communities of Iran, a conceptual framework was designed combining two theories PMT and cultural values.MethodologyA survey was conducted to address the main goal of the present study from July 2018 through February 2019 in Marvdasht Township. The farmers of Marvdasht Township considered as the statistical population of this study, which among them 256 farmers selected based on Cochran formula as the statistical sample using simple random sampling method. The research’s instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire which its reliability was confirmed by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the main scales of the questionnaire (α = 0.70 to 0.83) and also, its validity was confirmed by a panel of experts (faculty members of rural developments, agricultural extension, agro-ecology and agro-climate specialists) prior to the launch of the study. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS (V20) and AMOS (V20) software.Results and discussionThe results showed that proposed theoretical framework of this study has a good fit with data and has the predication potential of famers’ adaptation intention towards climate-change. According to the literature review in can be understand that combination of two both theories (protection motivation theory and cultural theory), is suitable for investigating the underlying factors influencing farmers’ adaptation intention towards climate change. For example, Hemayatkhah and Ghorbani (2016), explained 28 of the farmers’ adaptation intention towards climate change using the cultural values theory. Also, Azadi et al., (2014) showed that the protection motivation theory can predict 34% of the farmers' adaptation behavior in confronting climate change. Therefore, it is suggested that in the future studies, the conceptual model of this study should be used to assess farmers' adaptation intentions towards climate change. The results revealed that egalitarianism has a positive influence on farmers’ belief in climate change. Although fatalism has a negative effect on farmers’ adaptation intention towards climate change. This illustrates the contradiction between these two groups of people as well as the accountability of egalitarianism people and the lack of accountability of fatalism people to climate change. The results also, showed that individualism have a negative impact on subjective norms of farmers towards climate change. The results indicated that, adaptation intention of farmers towards climate change is affected by belief in climate change and the adaptation assessment positively, whilst maladaptation to climate change has a negative effect on farmers’ adaptation intention. Moreover, belief in climate change has a positive impact on farmers’ maladaptation to climate change. In this regard, it could be argued that, farmers who have personal experience of the negative consequences of climate change-related events, such as drought, or have seen farms that have been affected by climate change phenomena with severe product cuts, will try to prevent the occurrence of these incidents for themselves by applying adaptive practices.ConclusionThere is a consensus that awareness of farmers' intentions against climate change in order to understand the factors affecting their intention to adapt to environmental threats, such as climate change, in government policies and programs. In other words, recognizing the intentions of farmers as a management element can help planners of various executive sectors, especially the agricultural sector in a sustainable management. Iran experienced an extensive climate change and drawdown trend of the water level in recent years which poses negative impacts on the environment and agriculture. In this way, understanding the farmers’ adaptation intention to climate change can help to generate suitable policy solutions. Based on the results, belief in climate change has the most positive effect on the farmers’ adaptation intention towards climate change. In fact, information is crucial in shaping farmers’ perception of climate change risk and the effectiveness of adaptive measures. Incorrect information may lead to maladaptation which, in turn, influences the adaptation intention and behavioral response. As such, agricultural extension services are important in supporting farmers with technical knowledge of adaptive measures. Also, according to the results, it is important use of farmland visits, training courses on climate change threats, how to adapt to this challenge, and farm management. The lack of timely adaptation in agriculture may hamper prosperous farm developments by neglecting risks and opportunities emerging from climate change. It is also suggested that agricultural extension agents, using cultural values of farmers try to better understand the relationship between farmers and the environment and use it in their work plans. Because each of the groups has separate and unique needs and perhaps their educational and extensional methods are also very different.
