Relationship between Attitude Toward Watershed Management Programs and Level of Participation

During the last years, natural resources in Iran have suffered severe degradations. For the sustainable and better management of these resources, various policies have been advised, the most promising of which is the management of natural resources through participation of the local people. However, it has proven difficult to involve local people in natural resources management activities. Therefore there is a great need to know the reason for the low level of participation by the local communities. This study was designed to analyze the relationship between attitude toward Watershed Management Programs (WMP) and level of participation in WMP in Iran. In order to achieve this goal, a cross sectional survey was designed. Data for this study was gathered through personal interviews from three villages in Hable-Rud basin in Iran. Findings of this study indicated that level of participation in WMP was moderate to low, however respondents were preferred more involvement in the social activities rather than economic and environmental. The results of this study also showed that the level of the respondent’s attitude toward WMP was relatively high. The study also proved that there is a significant relationship between the level of participation and attitude toward WMP (r=.489-p=.000)