A comparison between viewpoint of experts and utilizers of natural resources on people participation in the process of preservation, restoration, development and utilization of forests and rangelands- Ilam province

The purpose of this study is to compare the viewpoint of experts and utilizers of natural resources on people participation in the process of preservation, restoration, development and utilization of forests and rangelands in Ilam province. The present study is practical type with a cause -and –effect research method. Statistical population included all experts of Ilam Natural Resources Office and utilizers of natural resources. Sample size of experts and utilizers was calculated using Cochran formula included 56 users and 317 experts. Stratified and cluster sampling and simple random sampling were used for utilizers and experts respectively. Questionnaire was applied for collecting the data. The reliability of the questionnaire was obtained from cronbach's alpha (α=%88). To analyze the data, nonparametric tests such as x2, mann- whiteny, and Kruskal Wallis were applied. The results indicated that there was a significant difference between experts and users regarding protecting and reviving of natural resources, while no significant differences were observed between them with relation to development and utilization of natural resources.