Analyzing Social & Economic Effects of Water Scarcity in al-Azeem Wetland on Rural Settlement Around the Wetland

Al-Azeem as an international riverine wetland on the border of Iran and Iraq, fed by domestic and foreign runoff, has recently undergone changes such as reducing discharge and increasing industrial pollution because of various natural and human reasons. In this regard, this fragile environment and its nearby villages (with low, reducing and semi-migratory population) must be studied through field and local research. This is an applied, descriptive-analytic study, with a documentary and survey method for data collection. The study population was 120 heads of households and/or available informant people over 25 years old in 10 villages of Dasht-e Azadegan County. The study questionnaire was prepared in consultation with academic experts. It is rated based on a 5-point Likert-type scale with regard to specific local conditions. The validity of the questionnaire was estimated based on the Cronbach α (0.812). Indexes of economic and social consequences of water scarcity were examined via using the Chi-square test at significance level of 0.05. Placing 83% of these outcomes in the first order, showed the negative effect of water shortage on social and economic lives of villagers. According to the findings and observations, we recommend some suggestions such as following water right of environment, lowering oil activities, executing necessary standards of environment, tourism promotion, and more research on feasible solutions of water shortage of the wetland were recommend.