Analysis of Factors Influencing Rural People's Participation in National Action Plan for Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources in Hable-Rud Basin, Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze factors influencing rural people's participation in National Action Plan for Sustainable Management of Land and Water Resources (NAP-SMLWR) in Hable-Rud Basin. This study is a case study of Arou village in northern Hable-Rud basin. The statistical population includes head of households who dwelling in Arou village and participate in this project. Available participants were selected that the number of individuals has been 60. The main instrument of the survey was questionnaire that its validity was established by an experts’ panel consisting of specialists in natural resources extension. Instrument reliability was established by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient for measuring level of rural people's participation in NAP-SMLWR, which its extent was 0.78. The findings of research showed that household size, times of traveling to town, level of participation in previous projects, awareness of plan goals, awareness of degradation impacts of natural resources, need to social solidarity, contact with technical experts and visit of sample projects are positively and significantly (p<0.01) correlated with level of rural people's participation in SMLWR. Level of participation in extension-education classes and level of contact with extension agents are positively and significantly (p<0.05) correlated with level of rural people's participation in NAP-SMLWR. The result of multiple regression indicated that variables of household size, level of contact with technical experts, times of traveling to town and level of awareness of plan goals could explain 50.3% of the variation in the level of rural people's participation in NAP-SMLWR.