Extended Abstract
Introduction: Achieving sustainable development requires transforming society-nature interactions into synergistic relationships. Effective governance of natural resources, particularly rangelands, requires collaboration and consensus among stakeholders to ensure the adaptability and sustainability of these ecosystems. Social capital, particularly trust and social participation, plays a crucial role in the successful participatory management of common-pool resources. In this context, social network analysis emerges as a valuable tool for identifying relationships and interactions among actors, facilitating the flow of information, and enhancing the effectiveness of management initiatives. This study analyzes social capital in rangeland governance across three customary jurisdictions in Tafresh County, focusing on social network structures and key actors.
Materials and methods: This study investigates the social relationships among rangeland users in three customary rangeland management units—Ahmadabad, Fark, and Nobahar—located in Tafresh County. Data were collected via full-network social network analysis (SNA). A Likert-scale questionnaire assessed trust and participation ties among 33 rangeland users. Data analysis was performed using UCINET software, applying key network metrics such as degree centrality, betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, and structural holes to identify key actors and analyze their relationships. The findings highlight influential actors within each rangeland management unit and their role in facilitating information flow, enhancing participation, and improving rangeland governance. This study provides a deeper understanding of the social structure of rangeland users and its implications for sustainable rangeland management.
Results and Discussion: SNA revealed significant differences in social network structures across Ahmadabad, Fark, and Nobehar, particularly in participation, trust, and key actors' roles. The findings identified the central actors in each rangeland unit’s social network and their influence on cooperation and information exchange. In Ahmadabad, the actor BH-AG, with the highest in-degree centrality, was recognized as a key player in receiving information and facilitating collective decision-making. Meanwhile, the actor HS-SD, with high out-degree centrality, demonstrated strong social influence and effective communication within the network. These results suggest that empowering these actors could enhance the adaptability of rangeland management and facilitate collective decision-making. Fark’s homogeneous network metrics suggest limited innovation in relationship-building. In Nobahar, the actor ZY-KH emerged as the most influential player, while the participation and trust metrics reflected a complex and diverse network structure.
Conclusion: In Fark, there exists a strong foundation of trust and relationships among stakeholders that facilitates effective collaboration and participation. This network represents the most successful instance of collaborative governance, characterized by high levels of participation and transparency in decision-making; however, there is a pressing need for innovation. In Nobahar, the trust and willingness to participate among stakeholders are also robust, fostering a sense of responsibility through established processes. Nonetheless, empowerment programs must enhance natural resource management. In contrast, Ahmadabad faces challenges related to the relationships and trust among stakeholders, which negatively impacts cooperation. Enhancing transparency and empowering stakeholders through educational initiatives and workshops is crucial. Fark exemplifies successful collaborative governance; Nobahar shows promise, while Ahmadabad lags in social participation and trust. Strengthening these social dimensions across all jurisdictions has the potential to significantly enhance natural resource management and collaborative governance.