Managing drought on rangelands: adaptive strategies as perceived by pastoralists in Jiroft county

Drought is one of the most important challenges to pastoralists in arid and semi-arid regions, so ‎it is necessary to reconsider drought management strategies on rangelands. This study was done ‎to identify the best strategies for drought management on rangelands based on nomadic and ‎rural pastoralists’ perception in Jiroft County, Kerman Province. Data for this study were collected ‎through the administration of questionnaires. The findings, as determined by multiple regression analysis, ‎highlight the utmost significance of certain management strategies during drought conditions for ‎pastoralists. Specifically, water management (P 0.0001), forage management (P 0.001), and income ‎diversification (P 0.05) emerged as the most vital elements in drought management. Furthermore, ‎Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that employing suitable irrigation techniques, ‎engaging in recreational activities, purchasing forage, and effectively storing water are critical ‎sub-criteria for enhancing drought management strategies. Nomadic pastoralists considered ‎moving livestock to rangelands with better condition and changing the livestock type as the ‎important strategies for drought management. Given that rural and nomadic pastoralists expressed ‎reluctance to reduce their livestock numbers during drought periods, implementing such a strategy ‎necessitates governmental arrangements and financial support. The findings underscore the preference of ‎pastoralists for reactive drought management methods over preventive strategies, highlighting the ‎necessity of raising awareness among pastoral communities about the risks associated with drought. ‎Overall, the indigenous knowledge held by pastoralists has the potential to enhance existing ‎management plans aimed at mitigating the consequences of drought.‎