Analysis of beneficiaries' tendencies towards rangeland individualization (Case study: Northwest rangelands of Golestan province

Background and purpose: Livestock exploitation and grazing is the most important human activity, the choice of which depends on various factors. The importance of how to manage customary rangeland systems in recent decades has made it one of the challenges of rangeland management in the country. Rangelands need principled management and planning for existing resources (water, soil and plants) and livestock for continuity and sustainability, planning to review the current situation and decide on the existing conditions is appropriate. Therefore, the importance of choosing the type of exploitation in the sustainable management of livestock and rangeland has made it as one of the most vital issues in the field of conservation, rehabilitation, improvement, proper exploitation and development of rangelands.In this regard, the present study examines the tendency of beneficiaries to individualize rangelands among beneficiaries in Gomishan city in the northwest of Golestan province.  Materials and Methods: The present study is descriptive in terms of data collection, descriptive in terms of controlling variables, and survey in terms of implementation strategy. The statistical population of the study consists of 200 rangeland beneficiaries from three conventional systems in Gomishan city of Golestan province.  So that 127 of them were selected as the sample size based on Krejcie Morgan table. Sampling was done randomly. The data collection tool was a questionnaire that was compiled according to the purpose of the research and based on the research background as well as interviews with experts and expert operators based on the centralized group method and extracting a set of related components in pairs. To determine the tendency of rangeland individualization operators, 44 items in the form of 7 economic, social, water and soil components, rehabilitation and protection, livestock and animal husbandry, welfare and management were used. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by a panel of experts and operators. To ensure its reliability, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated, which averaged 0.805, which indicates the acceptable reliability of the questionnaire.Statistical calculations in this study were performed using SPSS25 software in two descriptive and inferential sections. Results: The results of the research showed that beneficiaries had a greater tendency to individualize rangelands with a numerical value of 2.76. The results indicated that, the tendency of beneficiaries based on the variables "creating investment in livestock and rangeland" and "improving livestock income" in the economic dimension, "reducing violations and crimes in rangeland" and "satisfaction with Livestock and herding methods in the rangeland "in the social dimension," optimal use of surface water in the rangeland "and" prevent soil erosion and loss of surface soil "in the water and soil dimension," prevent non-native ranchers from entering the rangeland "and "Rehabilitation of rangeland lands through plantation and integrated methods" in the dimension of rangeland restoration and protection, "Observance of the grazing system in the rangeland" and "Creating a suitable space for providing livestock drinking" in the dimension of livestock and animal husbandry, "Better development of energy panels Solar in the rangeland "and" access to suitable facilities for family life "in the welfare dimension, as well as" improvement in creativity and innovation in rangeland management "and" organizational support and access to government services "in the management dimension, due to lower average From number three (average), it had the most positive effect on individualization of rangelands in the study area.  Its greatest impact has been on the management, livestock and animal husbandry dimensions. The results obtained from a single sample t showed that the tendency of beneficiaries in choosing the type of operation at the level of 99% confidence in all criteria except "water and soil" had a significant effect Conclusion: Considering that sustainable rangeland management faces serious challenges of degradation, so choosing the type of exploitation for better rangeland management is one of the most important priorities. As the results showed, the tendency of beneficiaries in the study area has been towards individualization of rangelands; therefore, while changing the traditional perceptions of ranchers towards the shared exploitation, it is possible to provide the ground for their empowerment, especially in the economic sector, as well as the multi-purpose use of rangelands through rangeland coordination. On the other hand, the research results show that in shared exploitation, trust, responsibility, empathy and participation, social capital and social solidarity, more than individual exploitation of rangelands. Therefore, in shared exploitation, by planning and oral segmentation of rangelands (based on the opinion of beneficiaries in the research results), while observing the exact time of entry and exit of livestock to the rangeland and preventing excess livestock, an effective step in for sustainable management of rangelands.