Cooperation in range management: investigating range cooperatives in renewing and conservation of Golestan province's rangelands

Cooperation system is one of the most modern production systems in agriculture and natural resources sectors. Recent threats and challenges in natural resources management are main reasons for considering integration of cooperation in natural resources management. Furthermore, due to the vast area of rangelands the active participation of local people is necessary in conservation and renovation of rangelands. Experiences indicated that cooperation system as a popular system could help country rangeland trustees to conserve and renovate ranges. This study examined the performance of range management cooperatives in conservation and renovation of Golestan province’s ranges. Survey research was used via filling 386 questionnaires from some ordinary or Board of Directors members in 28 cooperatives. Results showed that performance of cooperatives can be evaluated as medium quality. Results also showed that respondents evaluated performance of range management cooperatives in conservation and renovation of rangelands better and more proper than its other activities such as employment, water and forage supply for livestock. Altogether members of board of director scored the performance of cooperatives more than ordinary members. Based on the findings of this research more activities of range management cooperatives is suggested to provide its members with banking facilities, supplying proper water and trough for livestock in rangelands and precipitation storage activities.