Analyzing the success and failure of range management plans in Golestan Province

Range management plans are as one of the best tools to rangeland management and utilization. This study aimed to identify the success and failure causes of range management plans in Golestan province. Questionnaire method was used to collect data from supervising experts in range management plans. Multivariate analysis and Spearman rank correlation were used to data analysis at PC-ORD 5 and SPSS 16 softwares. Common traditional use of rangelands, lack of penalties for uncommitted users, not distinguish between committed and uncommitted utilizers, preparation of the plans without attention to utilizers viewpoint and preparing plans without economic justification were identified as the most important failure reasons of these plans (each of them 24 percent correlation with others). Undesirable plans and lack of distinguish between professional offenders were among other important failure reasons of the plans (each of these 23 percent correlation). These mentioned factors have high and significant correlation (above 70 percent) with lack of ownership, lack of disincentive laws, unsuitable proposed projects in economic and ecological issues and up-down policy making. Insurance of range managers, financial supports of plans supervisors, distinguish between committed and uncommitted utilizers (approximately 34 percent) and proposing plans with economy justification, and utilizing of short return were identified as the most important success factors of these plans (32 percent). The identified success factors had 81 percent correlation with offending range managers, 70 percent correlation with give the plans to the experienced experts and 52 percent correlation with preparing the plans with participating of utilizers.