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Poverty, sustainability, and household livelihood strategies in Zagros, Iran

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  • Soltani, Arezoo
  • Angelsen, Arild
  • Eid, Tron
  • Naieni, Mohammad Saeid Noori
  • Shamekhi, Taghi

Abstract

The study addresses the two intertwined challenges of rural poverty and forest degradation in rural areas of Zagros, Iran. For a watershed in Zagros, a quantitative analysis based on the sustainable livelihood framework approach is used to identify household livelihood strategies, analyze livelihood choices, and investigate which strategies are most sustainable. The study revealed that most households (64%) follow a mixed strategy with a combination of forestry, animal husbandry, and subsistence agriculture. Households following a livelihood strategy that is highly dependent on forest extraction and livestock grazing (27%) are the poorest, whereas those that combine cultivation of commercial crops with non-farm work (9%) are able to earn higher incomes. The results also give some evidence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve: households that both adopt a mixed strategy and fall into the middle-income category are responsible for the highest overuse of forest resources and pasture. Since the end of 1980s, a number of households have shifted from a strategy based on forest and livestock to a strategy of mixed practices. An increasing share of households is adopting a strategy of non-farm and/or commercial practices, as well as outmigration to urban areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Soltani, Arezoo & Angelsen, Arild & Eid, Tron & Naieni, Mohammad Saeid Noori & Shamekhi, Taghi, 2012. "Poverty, sustainability, and household livelihood strategies in Zagros, Iran," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 60-70.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:79:y:2012:i:c:p:60-70
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2012.04.019
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    Cited by:

    1. Nguyen, Trung Thanh & Do, Truong Lam & Bühler, Dorothee & Hartje, Rebecca & Grote, Ulrike, 2015. "Rural livelihoods and environmental resource dependence in Cambodia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 282-295.
    2. repec:spr:ssefpa:v:9:y:2017:i:6:d:10.1007_s12571-016-0642-2 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. repec:gam:jscscx:v:6:y:2017:i:3:p:76-:d:104562 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Soltani, Arezoo & Sankhayan, Prem L. & Hofstad, Ole, 2015. "A recipe for co-management of forest and livestock — Results of bio-economic model at a village level in Iran," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 74-86.
    5. repec:eee:forpol:v:86:y:2018:i:c:p:22-34 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Chuan Liao & Christopher Barrett & Karim-Aly Kassam, 2015. "Does Diversification Improve Livelihoods? Pastoral Households in Xinjiang, China," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 46(6), pages 1302-1330, November.
    7. repec:eee:ecolec:v:141:y:2017:i:c:p:76-86 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Faße, Anja & Grote, Ulrike, 2013. "The economic relevance of sustainable agroforestry practices — An empirical analysis from Tanzania," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 86-96.
    9. Soltani, Arezoo & Sankhayan, Prem Lall & Hofstad, Ole, 2016. "Playing forest governance games: State-village conflict in Iran," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 251-261.
    10. Angelsen, Arild & Jagger, Pamela & Babigumira, Ronnie & Belcher, Brian & Hogarth, Nicholas J. & Bauch, Simone & Börner, Jan & Smith-Hall, Carsten & Wunder, Sven, 2014. "Environmental Income and Rural Livelihoods: A Global-Comparative Analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(S1), pages 12-28.

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