Azadeh Bakhshi; Bahman Khosravipour; Mansour Ghanian
Abstract
Introduction: Among numerous natural resources, the water accounts as an increasingly scarce resource in Iran. Especially, in South Khorasan, a province with low annual rainfall, groundwater is a vital resource for agricultural systems. In recent years, the frequent and prolonged droughts led to aquifer ...
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Introduction: Among numerous natural resources, the water accounts as an increasingly scarce resource in Iran. Especially, in South Khorasan, a province with low annual rainfall, groundwater is a vital resource for agricultural systems. In recent years, the frequent and prolonged droughts led to aquifer overexploitation by agricultural operators. Because human behavior is the most important issue in environmental challenges, changing operators’ behavior plays an important role in sustainable resource management. For this reason, the present study aimed to investigate agricultural operators’ sustainable behavior and its correlates in South Khorasan. Material and methods: The present study is practical in terms of its nature and objectives, a descriptive survey in terms of data collection, and a correlation study in terms of analyzing the data. The total statistical population was the agricultural operators from the wells in seven counties (N=49685). A Purposive-quota sampling method was used (n=381) and the total data were gathered via the use of a research-based questionnaire. In total, 273 filled questionnaires were obtained. For assessing sustainable behavior based on Tapia-Fonllem research, four dimensions named pro-ecological, equity, frugality, and altruism were assessed. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficient which was obtained 0.70-0.88. The data were analyzed using SPSS v.22 and AMOS v.22. Results and discussion: According to descriptive analysis, 84% of respondents were the owner of the farms and around 80% were the owner of the wells. However, 92% of them had lower than 24 hours share of the well’s water. Also, 96% of farm systems were peasant. Both dependent and independent variables were analyzed via Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). However, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to confirm the goodness of the latent variables. According to the results, pro-environmental behavior, equity, frugality, and altruism initially showed fit-indices. In addition, the result of SEM showed that intention predicted 0.56 percent of variations in Sustainable groundwater behaviour (SGWB). Results of this study showed that attitudes towards drought had a positive and direct effect on the intention by 0.47 percent. In addition, environmental identity had a direct and positive effect on intention too. Subjective norm and personal obligation had a positive and indirect effect on intention variable. Also, intention and environmental behavior had a positive and direct effect on SGWB. Conclusion: It is necessary to do measures in order to conserve groundwater sustainability. Changing behavior is the most important factor to achieve this goal. According to the results of the present study, it could be concluded that if the operators of the wells have a clear attitude towards the drought and its effect, they can get a better decision on sustainable agricultural water management at farm level. In addition, if operators believe that their measures determine the sustainability of groundwater, they will try to improve their environmental identity and personal obligation. However, practical extension and education programs in environmental, social, and economic aspects can help to improve groundwater sustainable behavior among agricultural operators.
Mansour Ghanian; Azar Hasheminejad; Omid M. Ghoochani; Azade Bakhshi; Roghaye Yusefi Hajivand
Volume 15, Issue 2 , July 2017, , Pages 1-20
Abstract
Introduction:
As the largest international wetland in Iran, Shadegan Wetland is one of the most important and valuable wetlands in the country and, even, the world. The widespread nature of the wetland, its natural character, high abundance of plant species, animals and its habitats has brought tremendous ...
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Introduction:
As the largest international wetland in Iran, Shadegan Wetland is one of the most important and valuable wetlands in the country and, even, the world. The widespread nature of the wetland, its natural character, high abundance of plant species, animals and its habitats has brought tremendous value to the wetland. In recent years, this valuable wetland has been exposed to drying up and destruction due to natural and human factors. The livelihood of rural households in the area is in all respects indebted to Shadegan Wetland: The death of the wetland will be accompanied by the death of their livelihood. One of the ways to reduce the vulnerability of marginalized people in Shadegan Wetland is to emphasize on their adaptation behaviors. In this regards, the present study aimed to explore beneficiaries Conservation Behavior against drought effects in Shadegan Wetlands based on vulnerability theory.
Material and methods:
The present study in terms of its nature and objectives is practical, in terms of data collection, is a descriptive survey and, in terms of analyzing the data, is a correlation study. The total population were the rural operators living in the central part of the town and Khnafereh village in Shadegan City, Khuzestan Province (Iran). They consisted of eight villages with 2319 household operators (N=2319). A random-quota method was used as sampling (n=124) and data were gathered via the use of a research-based questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficient as greater than 0.76. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts, and the data were analyzed using SPSSv20 and AMOSv20.
Results and discussion:
According to the results, 47.6 percent of the beneficiaries of the wetland show an irresponsible behaviour towards the vulnerability of natural and human hazard and 52.4 percent of them have responsible behaviour. Results of the study showed that sensitivity has a significantly positive effect on vulnerability (β=0.377) and conservation behaviour (β=0.208). Exposure has a significantly positive effect on vulnerability (β=0.492) and conservation behaviour (β=0.3). Also, the results revealed that exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity predict a 41% variation in vulnerability. Exposure, sensitivity and vulnerability predict a 20 % variation in conservation behaviour.
Conclusion:
Thus, it can be concluded that exposure of the beneficiaries to the drought conditions of Shadegan Wetland and their sensitivity to drought have resulted in vulnerability and adaptation behaviour among them. Hence, exposure to wetland droughts can have both direct and indirect effects on their lives. For example, changing product performance in response to drought can be one of the direct effects of this phenomenon. Also, an increase in unemployment resulting from the drying of the wetland due to the reduction of Karun and Jarahi rivers is one of its indirect effects. Therefore, the residents of the area are going to respond to these and this will lead to the adaptation behaviour of the beneficiaries.
