Social Network Analysis of Local Stakeholders in Water and Soil Resources Co-Management in Behbahan Ghale Seyed Moghim and Khaeiz villages

Document Type : Research

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran

2 Master of Watershed Engineering, Department of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Behbahan, Iran

3 Ph.D. in Combating Desertification, Faculty of Natural Resources and Geoscience, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

10.22092/wmrj.2024.364399.1563

Abstract

Introduction and Goal
Conservation of water and soil resources is necessary and inevitable for sustainable development. Planning is necessary for achieving this development both now and in the future. In this regard, the human relationship as a beneficiary of the natural ecosystem should be at the top of policies and comprehensive management of water resources. Based on this, the requirement for successful management of water resources is to change the approach towards cooperative management. The success of watershed projects entirely depends on people's participation in the decision-making, implementation, and conservation of the projects. One of the main components in water resources management at the local level is the local stakeholders and their interactive relationship between them and the government institutions is necessary for forming a cooperative mechanism of water resources. In this regard, social networks can be effectively used in collaborative management. The purpose of this study is to analyze the social network of water and soil resources stakeholders in Khaeiz and Ghale Seyed Moghim villages and to determine the main strengths of the network in order to apply successful collaborative management of these resources.
Materials and Methods
In the current research, social network theory and its principles were used to investigate and analyze the pattern of relations between the stakeholders of water and soil resources in Ghale Seyed Moghim and Khaeiz villages. First, using a local survey and a questionnaire, trust, and participation data were collected based on the Likert scale (zero, very little, low, medium, high, and very high), and a matrix of trust and participation relationships was formed, and the matrix of trust and participation relations was formed. Then, different network indicators in macro (including density, concentration, and size of the network, degree of ambidexterity and transferability of links, average geodesic distance, and E-I index), meso (including indicators of peripheral center and density of subgroups) and micro (including input degree centralities, output and intermediate) levels were calculated and evaluated using UCINET software.
Results and Discussion
Based on the calculated indicators, the network of beneficiaries in both villages is stable and balanced. Therefore, it is possible to plan to preserve water and soil resources well. The network of the stakeholders in Ghale Seyed Moghim village is more cohesive, which will be more effective in cooperative activities in the matter of local sustainable development Instead, people in Seyed Moghim villages were able to connect with each other more quickly, and building trust as well as their collective activities takes place in less time. Also, key actors were identified in both networks and should be involved in the decision-making and participatory management of water and soil resources in the region.
Conclusion and Suggestions
Social network analysis provides managers with an effective tool to identify users and their relationships, making water resources management efficient. Considering the results of network cohesion in Khaeiz, non-key actors should be encouraged to create trust and partnership bonds. Also, through educational and promotional activities, the existing participation and trust in the networks should be maintained, and the opportunity to create new trust and participation of stakeholders should be provided.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Watershed Management Research
Volume 37, Issue 3 - Serial Number 144
September 2024
Pages 111-127

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 December 2023
  • Revise Date: 27 January 2024
  • Accept Date: 18 March 2024

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