Prioritization of Factors Influencing People’s Participation in Watershed Management Projects of Siyahposh Basin, Ardabil Province, Iran

People’s Participation (PP) in watershed management and development projects in the Iran, in addition to reducing implementation costs, can lead to the success and more effective implementation of projects. Several factors can cause People’s Non-Participation (PNP) in Watershed Management Projects (WMPs), and the purpose of this research is to identify, classify and prioritize these factors in the Siyahposh basin in Ardabil province from the point of view of watershed residents and experts. After determining the sample size and completing the questionnaires, by applying the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) model and the Friedman test, the main component and sub-component affecting the non-sustainable participation of the people in the WMPs of the Siyahposh basin were prioritized. The results showed that from the point of view of experts, economic, legal and educational and extension components have a greater role in PNP than social and planning and implementation components. From the people’s point of view, economic and educational-promotional components are the first and second priorities in the Siyahposh basin. From the point of view of experts, the sub-component of ignoring people’s income as a direct economic incentive (X1) and non-continuity of WMPs in the basin (X13) have the maximum and minimum importance, respectively. From the point of view of local communities, the sub-component of ignoring people’s income as a direct economic incentive (X1) and low level of literacy and awareness (X4) have the highest and lowest levels of importance in PNP, respectively. Two sub-components ignoring people’s income as a direct economic incentive (X1) and defects in the laws of natural resources exploitation by people (X16) are placed in the first six priorities from the point of view of both groups. Considering the interests of the watershed residents, decentralizing the decision-making power, increasing the Non-Governmental Organizations and training the users, and changing the rules for the exploitation of natural resources and the rules for the allocation of water rights can create the basis for trust and attracting the active participation of people in projects.