Analysis of the Social Network of the Governance of the Integrated Management of Agricultural Water Resources in Mazandaran Province

Social networks are important for governance of natural resource management. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the interactions and communication patterns among the network of related institutions in the governance of integrated management of agricultural water resources.

To study the governance social network, a network of cooperation interactions between institutions and organizations involved in the governance activities of the integrated management of agricultural water resources in Mazandaran province was extracted. Initially, using the method of archival research (study of written sources and previous research), direct observation as well as unstructured interviews with experts and knowledgeable people in the field of integrated management governance of agricultural water resources, Twenty-two institutions and organizations that participated in various activities of governance of the interconnected management in agricultural water resources in Mazandaran province were identified and in fact determine the social boundary of the network. Data collection was required to form a matrix of the intensity of cooperation relations in the cooperation network of organizations related to the governance of integrated management of agricultural water resources based on the process of conducting semi-structured interviews and completing the relevant questionnaires. UCINET6.631 and Net draw software were used for data analysis.

The link density index of cooperation is moderate, the network concentration index based on internal and external links shows that about one third of the links formed are monopolized by a certain number of institutions. The reciprocity index of links is moderate, the index of link Transitivity is weak between the relevant institutions, and the index of the average geodetic distance or the shortest distance between two actors in this network indicates the average to low speed of the link in the network. Also, in the study area, the number of institutions that are under the central group is more than the number of institutions that are under the peripheral group.

 The results of this research in Mazandaran watershed showed that the sector approach in water resources management has led to the rule of special institutions, and finally, this approach sets policy goals without considering the stakeholders of water resources, which causes contradictions between stakeholders in the governance of water resources. Therefore, it is proposed to provide legal and incentive mechanisms for greater participation and cooperation of marginalized organizations in the processes of decision-making, decision-making and implementation in the form of membership in joint working groups, inter-agency agreements, joint projects and exchange of resources between agencies should be developed at the provincial level to balance power among all stakeholders.