چكيده لاتين :
Desertification combating projects are usually developed and implemented to protect water and soil
and keep sustainable development of local communities. Therefore, evaluating the socio-economic effects of such
projects is highly important for identifying and addressing the challenges involved in this regard and perpetuating
their positive effects. Thus, this study sought to evaluate the socio-economic effects of the desertification projects
and plans implemented in the southeastern region of Ahvaz in 2021.
Materials and methods: this study used the documentary method to investigate the theoretical dimensions of the
subject and a survey method to collect the required quantitative data. The study's statistical population consisted of
two groups of rural residents and experts familiar with the study area. Based on Cochran's formula and matching
with Krejcie and Morgan's table, 335 rural residents were selected to participate in the study, using random
sampling. Moreover, 26 experts participated in completing the questionnaires and conducting the research. After
confirming the questionnaire's validity, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was obtained as 0.86 and 0.83 for rural
residents and experts, respectively. On the other hand, the prioritization of the economic and social effects of the
projects was performed through the average rankings. Finally, the mean comparison of the viewpoints of rural
residents and experts was assessed through a Mann-Whitney test.
Results: According to the study's results, improving the employment opportunities and job creation, increasing the
price of land in the region, and reducing the migration incentives are ranked first to third in terms of priority from
the rural residents' viewpoints with the average values of 4.20, 4.15, and 4.12, respectively, followed by the
influence of water and soil protection, dust reduction, and the participation of the local community in the
implementation of desertification combating plans and operations, respectively. Moreover, the analysis of the
experts' opinions showed that water and soil protection, dust reduction, increases in land prices, improvement of
employment opportunities, reduction in migration incentives, and increases in the level of the local and rural
communities' trust in goals and programs of executive departments were the most important effects of project
implementation in the region with the average values of 4.46, 4.31, 4.19, 4.15 and 4.11, respectively.
The mean values of the desertification combating projects were compared between the rural residents' viewpoints
and experts' opinions using the Mann-Whitney test, revealing a statistically significant difference between the
opinions of rural residents and experts in terms of the effects of water and soil protection and dust reduction,
increases in the villagers' revenues, diversification of the villagers' income sources, and strengthening the
cooperation and social cohesion among local communities. All of these items had a higher average rank in the
experts' viewpoint except for "strengthening the cooperation and social cohesion among local communities. Experts
significantly out-evaluated the consequences of the implemented combating desertification projects concerning the water and soil protection, dust reduction, increases in the villagers' revenues, and creation of a variety of new
income resources compared to the rural residents. In other items regarding the effects of the projects, no statistically
significant difference was found between the viewpoints expressed by residents and experts. As for the economic
effects, there was a statistically significant difference between the experts' and rural residents' viewpoints (P<0.05),
with the implementation of projects having more significant prominent effects in the experts' view. However, there
was no statistically significant difference between the viewpoints offered by experts and residents in terms of the
social effects of combating desertification projects (P>0.05).
Discussion and Conclusion: According to the viewpoints expressed by both experts and rural residents, water and
soil protection, dust reduction, improvement of job opportunities, increases in the price of land in the studied
region, and reduction in migration incentives are the most important economic and social consequences of
desertification combating projects. Moreover, the viewpoints of experts and rural residents of the region concerning
the economic and social consequences of the projects were close to each other and did not differ significantly,
indicating their mutual understanding and intellectual proximity of the issue. Therefore, it appears that
strengthening such a relationship helps desertification combating projects to be more successful. The results of this
study also showed positive and acceptable effects of the projects in the study area. In fact, the implementation of
such projects has improved the conditions for the sustainability and activity of rural communities. However, new
plans should be developed for improving the welfare status, increasing the revenues, improving the water quality,
increasing the production of crops, and increasing horticulture products. On the other hand, attracting the
stakeholders' participation by promoting conservation knowledge and culture, using the potentials and capacities of
the region, and providing the necessary facilities and financial support in terms of combating desertification goals
and measures can help increase the chances for the success of desertification combating projects.
