Integrated Watershed Management

Integrated Watershed Management

Identification and analysis of natural resources governance system (Case study: Khash County)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Nasrodin Shahnavazi
Fatemeh Narmashiri
MohammadReza Rigi
Department of Natural Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Planning and Sustainable Development, University of Saravan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran
10.22034/iwm.2025.2051885.1204
Abstract
Extended Abstract
 Introduction: : By 2050, the global population is projected to reach approximately 9.2 billion. This growth, coupled with global and environmental changes, will significantly impact people's lives. To address these challenges, it is essential to adopt approaches that demonstrate how these changes exert their influence and to propose adaptive solutions. Sustainability and sustainable development play a crucial role in the conservation and restoration of natural resources; however, anthropogenic pressures and improper management pose serious threats to these resources. Sustainable management necessitates the identification of all stakeholders and their active participation in decision-making processes to establish a systemic and comprehensive perspective for the optimal protection and utilization of natural resources. Accordingly, the analysis and identification of the natural resource governance system approach in Khash County, located in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, is considered a vital issue in the natural resource management and sustainable development of this region. Effective natural resource governance implies creating an efficient management system wherein all stakeholders, including the government, local communities, and the private sector, actively participate in the decision-making process. This approach not only contributes to improving the condition of natural resources but also lays the groundwork for strengthening civil society and enhancing transparency and accountability in resource management. Therefore, the identification and analysis of good governance indicators are of particular importance. This research was conducted to identify the modes of natural resource governance in Khash County.
 Materials and methods: To investigate natural resource governance modes, 11 formal institutional stakeholders were selected from four villages: Eslamabad Poshtkuh, Esmailabad Garanjin, Butegan, and Bilariy Poshtkuh. Data were collected via a questionnaire comprising ten factors introduced by Poul Westel in 2001, with each factor measured by three indicators. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. Subsequently, in the next phase, the desired strategy was analyzed and formulated using the QSPM Matrix. The study population for this phase consisted of 45 experts and managers from the Natural Resources and Agriculture-Jihad departments of the county, from whom 17 individuals were purposively selected.
 Result and Discussion: The results indicate a significant difference among the governance indicators. Among the 10 sub-functions, legitimacy, policy framing, knowledge generation, and resource mobilization were ranked first to third, respectively. In the sub-functions of rulemaking, knowledge generation, resource mobilization, and comprehensiveness, the hierarchical governance mode showed a significant difference compared to the other two investigated governance modes.  In the other sub-functions of rulemaking, monitoring and evaluation, legitimacy, and leadership, the market-based governance mode exhibited a significant difference compared to the other two modes. Furthermore, only in the sub-function of conflict resolution did the network governance mode attain the first priority. The QSPM matrix results demonstrate that among the proposed strategies, strengthening stakeholder participation through the establishment of participatory and network frameworks in decision-making processes holds the highest attractiveness.
 Conclusions: : The research findings indicate that the dominant governance method in the studied villages relies more on hierarchical and market-based structures, which can lead to inefficiency in natural resource management. Therefore, to improve the current situation, it is recommended that the governance system incorporate the positive elements of both (and implicitly, all three, including network) approaches to establish a more effective natural resource governance framework.
Keywords
Institutional stakeholders
governance system
natural resources governance
social-ecological systems
Sistan and Baluchestan
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 02 February 2025
  • Revise Date 13 March 2025
  • Accept Date 11 June 2025