Investigating the effects of desertification on socio-economic status of rural areas (Case Study: Eastern Kalatea villages of Miami)

Investigating and revealing desertification problems, in addition to specifying the dimensions of this phenomenon, pays special attention to this problem and is effective in making the right decision for resource management. Therefore, the economic and social effects of desertification were studied in the Eastern Kalatea villages of Miami. This research was carried out in the first stage as a documentary and in the second stage as a survey method. The household population living in the area was selected as the statistical population of the research and based on Cochran's minimum sample formula, 318 household heads were determined as the minimum statistical sample. A questionnaire was designed with three axes of desertification, its social effects and its economic effects. The validity of the questionnaire was evaluated according to experts' opinion and finalized with modifications. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed with a pre-test based on Cronbach's alpha coefficient and was completed by referring to the villages based on proportional population distribution. The results showed that more than 90% of the respondents answered completely in favor of the region desertification in ways such as the reduction of vegetation, the water resources reduction, wind erosion and dust. The study of the economic effects of desertification showed that, more than 90 percent of the respondents agreed with the decrease in income and purchasing power, the decrease in job opportunities, and the increase in the costs of agriculture and animal husbandry as a result of desertification. Also, in the study of the social effects of desertification, more than 90% of the respondents chose the fully agree and agree options for all the items related to the increase in unemployment and youth migration, the decrease in the level of well-being, the decrease in the quality of life and life expectancy, and the increase in insecurity.