Assessment and Comparative Evaluation of Livability of Villages with and without Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Activities (Case Study: Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province)

The relationship between rural livability and the sustainability of basic production resources is an issue that has not been seriously considered so far. Of course, due to the crisis of natural resources and the environment and the unsustainability of rural settlements, it is becoming increasingly important. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of soil protection and watershed management activities on rural livability in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. The statistical population included the residents of the studied villages and the sample size was 143 people. This research is applied in terms of purpose and based on the research strategy, it is a survey type and a questionnaire tool has been used to collect data. The validity of the questionnaire obtained using content validity and its reliability obtained through Cronbach's alpha. SPSS18 software used for data analysis. Findings showed that the livability level of villages with watershed management and soil protection was significantly different from the viability level of villages without these plans. In other words, it can be concluded that watershed management projects can improve living conditions in rural areas and, of course, in the long run, increase the level of satisfaction with life and activity in rural areas. It is suggested that in order to improve the livability of mountain villages, special attention should be paid to watershed management measures so that the sustainable use of natural resources and mountain products is considered as the main livelihood strategy by rural households.