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Dryland co-management in Kerman province, Iran: a dynamic analysis of social networks

Author

Listed:
  • Leila Avazpour

    (University of Tehran)

  • Mehdi Ghorbani

    (University of Tehran)

  • Ahmad Naderi

    (University of Tehran)

  • Nafiseh Fakhar Izadi

    (University of Tehran)

  • Hossein Azadi

    (Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège
    Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
    Babeș-Bolyai University)

  • Maryam Yazdanparast

    (University of Tehran)

Abstract

Capacity building and social empowerment of the villagers are preconditions for sustainable development. Accordingly, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the structural characteristics of social capital for co-management and empowerment of rural communities by social network analysis (SNA) as a research method. According to the results, the density index in all of the studied areas was increased after the implementation of the empowerment project. In addition, on average, the reciprocity index increased nearly 30.50% in trust and 18.31% in collaboration networks in the studied villages. Thus, it could be understood that social capital and empowerment in local communities are both required and complementary. As a result, any action aimed at building the capacity of the local community, increasing social capital, and promoting trust and collaboration among local communities will ultimately lead to maintaining and strengthening the social structures of that community. Therefore, this community develops into a region, which serves as the foundation for long-term rural development. These results can be administered to other areas of research and interference such as studies of community development, participatory research, and social intervention. By exploiting these results, planners and policymakers can plan to improve the empowerment of rural communities, self-reliance, and rural development.

Suggested Citation

  • Leila Avazpour & Mehdi Ghorbani & Ahmad Naderi & Nafiseh Fakhar Izadi & Hossein Azadi & Maryam Yazdanparast, 2025. "Dryland co-management in Kerman province, Iran: a dynamic analysis of social networks," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 12259-12279, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04346-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04346-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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