The Relationship between Area, the Number of Ranchers and Animal Units with Range Condition in Range Management Plans (Case Study: Esfahan Range Management Plans)

Range management plans (RMPs) are one of the main tools for the management and utilization of rangelands in Iran. Range size, number of animal units, and rangeland users are considered as the most important factors influencing RMPs. This study was conducted in the rangelands of Isfahan province in 2008 in order to study the relationship between range size, the ratio of permitted animal unit to existing animal unit and number of rangeland users with range condition. Accordingly, the list of RMPs was prepared. Then, the range size, the number of permitted and existing animal units and rangeland users were determined. After that, the range condition was determined using four-factor (winter rangelands) and six-factor methods (summer rangelands). Finally, the relationship between range size, the ratio of the permitted animal unit to the existing animal unit and number of rangeland users (separately and commonly) with range condition was verified by using spearman correlation and discriminate analysis. Results indicated that there was a significant relationship between range size (P≤ 0.01) and the ratio of the permitted to the existing animal unit (P≤0.05) with range condition in summer rangelands. Therefore, it is concluded that range size and animal unit could be considered as one of the factors affecting rangeland degradation.