Social networks` analysis of rural stakeholders in watershed management

Sustainable watershed management evolved illustrating a specific shift from the perspective of traditional policy making in this area toward participatory management among all available stakeholders. The overall purpose of watershed participatory management is defined as the development of sustainable rural livelihoods with participation of all stakeholders and is based on the comprehensive management of natural resources. Current study aimed to analyze the stakeholders of social networks including various rural and social stakeholder groups associated with the Chehelchay watershed of Golestan province in Iran at the individual level. The research was conducted through network analysis method investigating three networks of trust, information exchange, and participation among seven groups of rural including farmers, gardeners, ranchers, sericultures, planting medical plants as well as people with non-farm jobs. Thus, total 60 individuals selecting through purposeful sampling method were interviewed using structured questionnaires for data collecting. The data analysis process was performed with Ucinet and NetDraw. According to the findings, the density indicator calculated in the trust, information exchange and participation networks related to studied villages was moderate and higher. The between centrality results illustrate that farmer, gardener, and rancher groups achieved the maximum amount generally and are considered as one of the primary actors in different networks. There were approximately the same results as for in-degree and out-degree centralities as they are higher amounts in farmers and gardeners’ groups. Finally, developing strategies, actions, and the services of the integrated watershed management based on stakeholders' participation and the cooperation of the organizations responsible for natural resources is suggested in order to attain the effective participation of stakeholders in Chehelchay watershed.