Study of non-grazing conflicts in protected areas (case study: Bahram-e Goor protected area-Iran)

Abstract

Protected areas have emerged as one of the most important and effective tools in the world for biodiversity conservation. Changing the use of natural lands, especially rangelands to protected areas, causes livestock grazing to be restricted in some of the grazing lands. These restrictions cause conflict between different natural land stakeholders. This study investigates the non-grazing management conflicts in the Bahram-e Goor protected area in Iran. In the first stage of the study, in order to investigate the existing conflicts, interviews were conducted with various stakeholders. The sampling method is classification, optimum allocation and targeted sampling method and the statistical population size is obtained from snowball method. The tool used for data collection was questionnaire and R and Gephi software were used for statistical analysis of data. Overall, 15 stakeholder groups and 19 conflict codes were identified. On the other hand, 354 questionnaires were also completed. The results of this research show the number of conflicts of the Department of Environment with 20 conflicts, more than others. Also, the highest number of conflicts is between the Department of Environment and unauthorized tourists, with four conflicts, and with farmers and gardeners, with three conflicts. Based on the findings of this study, in order to resolve key and important conflicts, planning can be done by the management of natural resources and protected areas.