Assessing Livestock Farmer's Knowledge Regarding Rangeland Conservation and Influencing Factors (Case Study in the Mahneshan Township)

The main aim of this research was to assess livestock farmer's knowledge and attitude regarding rangeland conservation actions and to analyze the factors affecting this knowledge. The study utilized a mixed methodological approach including a survey and case study. The target population in the study was 1280 livestock farmers of rural areas in the Mahneshan Township, in which rangeland projects had been implemented or was being implemented. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, a sample of 204 farmers was selected randomly. Data were collected through existing documents review, focus groups, semi-structured interviews and structured interviews. Farmers had a positive attitude towards the importance of rangelands and had relatively high knowledge regarding the biological control and grazing management of rangelands, but they had a low level of knowledge about their mechanical control. Moreover, based on a step wise regression analysis, farmer's knowledge about the rangeland conservation were determined by farmer's attitude, age, having beekeeping, attending training courses and interaction with external experts.