Analyzing Rural Women's Information Needs for Sustainable Natural Resources Management (A Case Study in the Ghezel Tapeh Watershed in Zanjan Province)

Rural women are directly connected to natural resources and environment and because of their livelihood
strategies, they have mutual impacts on those resources. Rural women's knowledge has significant contribution
to sustainable integrated watershed management. This research aims to understand rural women's information
needs for sustainable natural resources management. The study utilized a qualitative perspective through a case
study methodology using the Rapid Rural Appraisal techniques in the Ghezel Tapeh Watershed, Zanjan
province, Iran. Rural women contributed to their household livelihoods through both agricultural and nonagricultural
strategies. They needed to obtain information and enhance their awareness and know-how
knowledge or skills in subjects such as effective harvesting and processing of horticultural and dairy products,
new methods of carpet weaving with updated designs and maps, new non-agricultural job opportunities,
employment in new agricultural activities, natural resources and environment conservation techniques, and
functional literacy. They also needed to improve their environmental attitude and values regarding proper rural
waste management. There were no serious human physical and health defects among rural women and this
human capability can be utilized for building their other livelihood capacities. These needs imply the necessity
of improving rural women's know-what knowledge and providing required condition for enhancing their skills