مشخصات پژوهش

Effective wetland governance is a key instrument for achieving sustainable natural resource management and improving the livelihoods of local communities. This study aimed to identify and validate the dimensions and criteria of effective governance in the Jazmurian wetland using an exploratory mixed-methods (qualitative–quantitative) design. In the qualitative phase, governance dimensions and criteria were derived from semi-structured, in-depth interviews with key informants and a systematic review of scientific sources, and were analyzed using thematic analysis. This process identified 121 initial themes, 27 criteria, and five main governance dimensions. In the quantitative phase, the extracted structure was tested and validated through validity and reliability assessments with the participation of local farmers and pastoralists. Findings showed that technical-scientific, economic-livelihood, participatory-social, sustainability and resilience, and institutional-political dimensions play the most influential roles in achieving effective governance of the Jazmurian wetland toward reducing regional deprivation. Specifically, the technical-scientific dimension requires strengthened environmental monitoring, use of scientific data, and local training; the economic-livelihood dimension highlights livelihood diversification, green employment, and financial support; and the participatory-social dimension stresses enhanced community participation, social trust, and inter-institutional collaboration. Moreover, the sustainability and resilience dimension focuses on water management, vegetation restoration, and vulnerability reduction, while the institutional-political dimension calls for intersectoral coordination, decision-making transparency, institutional accountability, and policy stability. Given gaps in wetland governance frameworks, the validated dimensions and criteria proposed here can support informed decision-making, effective policy development, and integrated planning for sustainable management of the Jazmurian wetland, with potential applicability to other dry and disadvantaged wetlands.