SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SERVICES IN THE RANGELAND ECOSYSTEM: A CASE STUDY OF THE AL-SORRAH RANGELAND RESERVE IN JORDAN

Abstract

The degradation of rangeland protected areas in Jordan due to refugee settlement and climate change directly impacts rangeland well-being and the ecosystem services (ES) it provides. But there is a lack of research and understanding of how human actions and perceptions impact rangeland ecosystems. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how different social-ecological systems (SES) influence human actions and perceptions toward rangeland ecosystems. Using a Multivariate Principal Component Analysis for Mixed data (PCAMIX), we interviewed 100 pastoralists and characterised groups of pastoralists based on their decision-making when grazing inside Al-Sorrah Reserve and their social- economic and environmental attitudes. The results showed a differentiated pattern of SES among the pastoralists. This research paper has identified three pastoralist groups based on their attitudes and perceptions towards utilising SES; based on the PCAMIX eigen values of grazing periods (-0.76), length of grazing inside the reserve (-0.53) and the act of practicing grazing inside the reserve (4.8-6.9). Most pastoralists currently have little incentive to consider the impact of their activities and results suggest that integrating SES into rangeland management and national policy would simplify and enhance knowledge and actions that encourage rangeland management.