Comparison of Structural Indicators of Social Networks of Ranchers Participation in Summer Rangeland Management Systems Delarstaq, Amol

Effective and efficient implementation of rangeland improvement and rehabilitation programs using a participatory approach will raise issues and problems for policy makers and managers requiring a general approach to solve them. This type of management is often related to the pattern of social relations between ranchers in the structure of different management systems governing on rangelands. The purpose of this study is to analyze the social network of ranchers in terms of participation related to the implementation of rangeland activities and compare it in the management systems of private exploitation, collective and council in the Delarstaq rangelands of Amol. In this research, using a network analysis questionnaire and a direct interview, the link was examined between participation in the implementation of rangeland management plan. According to the research findings, the rates of density, reciprocity and transitivity indices in private exploitation management system are higher than collective and in common management system are higher than the council. However, the average geodetic distance index and network centrality indices in group management systems (collective and council) were higher than the private exploitation management system, which indicates less participation, cohesion and integration of the ranchers in group management systems. Therefore, considering the discovery of social gaps in the participatory network of group management systems, modifying the structural pattern of social relations in these systems before the implementation of the desired programs is one of the basic and necessary measurment for successful participatory management in these areas.