Explanation of Economic Sustainability Assessment Indices in Pastoral Units of Summer Rangelands: A Case Study of Summer Rangelands of Sahand, Maragheh County of Iran

Authors

Abstract

 Nowadays, the
economic sustainability is recognized as the vital element in retention of
rural and nomadic populations. It is necessary to apply targeted instruments
and indices for assessing economic sustainability. This study, carried out in
2014, aimed at preparing and validating the evaluation indices of economic
sustainability in rangeland units of Sahand mountainous area. Firstly, 59
economic sustainability assessment indices were formulated and judged through questionnaire
forms by academic specialist, administrative experts and local elites. To
validate and take a consensus as well as descriptive data, Kruskal-Wallis
one-way analysis of variance was used and then, those indices with mode, median
and mean greater than 3, SD less than 1 and CV less than 0.3 were selected, providing
consensus of experts, specialist and local elites. In this research, the 30
indices uphold by the experts, specialists and endemic elites were introduced
in framework of 8 components which mangers and programmers of natural resources
especially rangeland ones could use in evaluation and assessment of economic sustainability
of rangeland units.   

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