Evaluation of the stakeholders’ attitude towards natural resources and environmental management projects, case study: Hablehroud Watershed

In this paper the watershed management activities on some part of the Hablehroud Watershed was evaluated on the basis of the stakeholders’ attitude using the questionnaire (face to face interview and recording) and qualitative research method. The respondents’ community was randomly selected among males and females and gathered data was analyzed using the SPSS statistical software. The descriptive results showed that, despite its high necessity and importance, the number and diversity of offered educational and extension programs are insufficient from the Hablehroud stakeholders’ point of view. Assessment of stakeholder’s viewpoints regarding key influencing factors on natural resources and environmental degradation as well as stakeholders’ awareness and feeling of responsibility about environment indicated that local people have a relatively good environmental knowledge and feel themselves highly responsible. Furthermore, stakeholders very highly acknowledge the effects and importance of implementing soil and water conservation measures from various dimensions. Therefore it is crucial to provide educational and extension programs, to benefit from local knowledge and to involve the local stakeholders in order to succeed in the projects. However, low incomes and lack of employment opportunities, which are main issues of rural communities, lead to migration from some locations. In fact, stakeholders declared that lack of financial resources is the main hindrance to willingness to implement soil and water conservation measures. Moreover, lack of awareness and information about soil and water conservation measures and their effects and absence of pilot and demonstration farms are the second and third most hindering factor to adopt soil and water conservation measures.