Analyzing Environmental Attitudes and Behavior of Nomadic Communities after the Implementation of Participatory Management Plan for Forest and Rangeland

Today, recognizing human attitudes and behavior regarding the environment is of great importance due to environmental problems and challenges. In the meantime, nomadic and rural communities have received more attention due to the direct connection and exploitation of environmental resources. The purpose of this study is to analyze the attitude and environmental behavior of nomadic societies in the Bazoft District of Koohrang County, in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, after the implementation of participatory management plan for forest and rangeland (JICA). The present paper is an applied research, and in terms of the nature and method, is descriptive-analytical based on survey. Documentary and field method and a questionnaire were used for data collection. The statistical population of this study was all nomads living in 5 villages, where the JICA project was implemented, and according to the census of 2016, their total number was 2236 persons and 442 households. Using the Cochran formula, 206 households were selected as the sample. To analyze the data, one sample t-test, factor analysis, and PSI have been used. The results of one sample t-test for the nomadic environmental attitude showed that JICA plan had a significant and meaningful impact on the change of attitudes of nomadic communities in the villages involved in this project. And according to the average results obtained, it can also be said that the selfish attitude of nomads living in the studied villages was due to two types of friendly and biosphere attitudes. In addition, the results of factor analysis showed that 6 out of 13 factors account for 69.98% of the total variance. Among these six factors, the most important factor regarding environmental behavior is social responsibility towards the environment, with a specific value of 13.60 giving a total variance of 36.75. Based on the results, it can be stated that the JICA project has changed the environmental behaviors of the nomads of the study area, which are the main environmental beneficiaries of the region.