Analysis of Effective Institutional Network on Rural Sprawling in Rural Settlements Around Hamedan

Land as a source of rural production requires wise management and protection. One of the physical phenomena in rural settlements around urban areas is rural sprawling phenomenon that results in land use changes in agricultural and horticultural areas in favor of other usages. Various factors affect this phenomenon, of which institutional and organizational factors and forces are the most important ones. This study aimed to recognize rural sprawling phenomenon and analysis of effective land management interventions and effective networks and their interactions or conflicts in rural areas around the city. Study area comprised 24 rural settlements around the city of Hamedan. The results showed that more than half of the institutional authorities have 5 types of conflicts with other institutions. One third of network links are controlled by state authorities and the main key agencies and policymakers and other institutions have passive, marginal and facilitating role in land use change. Investment opportunities around the cities, shortage of land in the city boundaries, employment opportunities and providing income, and massive demand for single-family units have accelerated the trend of land use changes. Attending to the urban areas of Hamedan and rural-urban relations and interactive policies with emphasis on the protection of residential areas can contribute to wise management of land.