Relationship between socioeconomic vulnerability and ecological sustainability: The case of Aran-V-Bidgol's rangelands, Iran

This study combines the Me-Bar and Valdez's vulnerability assessment techniques with geographic information systems (GIS) to assess socioeconomic vulnerability and its relation to ecological sustainability in winter rangelands of Aran-V-Bidgol County, Isfahan province, Iran. Socioeconomic data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and ecological sustainability parameters (including plant, litter, soil, sand and gravel cover and forage yield) data were collected through field measurements. Results showed that “local problems”, “number of rangeland users”, “rangeland user's access to rangeland experts”, “utilization pattern”, “livestock type”, “economic status of rangeland users”, “livestock number” and “increasing prices” were the most important socioeconomic indicators influencing socioeconomic vulnerability in the rangelands. In addition, a significant relationship was found between the socioeconomic vulnerability index and ecological sustainability parameters, including forage yield of annual forbs and total forage yield. Findings further indicated that a combination of the social and economic indicators with a focus on the local scale dimensions of vulnerability could create a useful tool for decision-makers, practitioners and rangeland users whose main recent concern is vulnerable rangeland ecosystems.