Measuring the Multi-Level Resilience Based on Social Heterogeneity Faced with Drought in Rangeland Users

Abstract

One of the basic strategies to reduce vulnerability in social systems facing fluctuations or climate change is to increase the resilience of communities to the disturbance and turmoil created in ecological systems. The aim of this study was to investigate multi-level resilience based on social heterogeneity under climate fluctuations in Nodooshan watershed of Yazd province. The survey method and the questionnaire were used to determine the resilience of local beneficiaries. The sample size was calculated using the Cochran sampling formula, and 102 people were selected by random sampling method from 6 villages in Nodooshan watershed. In order to determine the degree of resilience of users in Nodooshan watershed, social network analysis (SNA) was used by the full network method in three ties of social capital (trust, collaboration, and information exchange). The result of the highest effect size in the collaboration network of Nodoushan watershed beneficiaries is 57.75, in the trust network is 45.41 and in the information exchange network is 44.17. Findings show that social capital has led to more resilience of beneficiaries in drought conditions, and the rate of resilience in villages that are more exposed to drought is higher than in villages less exposed to drought. However, the results, in general, show the unfavorable situation of beneficiaries in terms of social capital. In addition, the effect of social network metrics on resilience in the face of climate change in different layers of social heterogeneity, as well as the structure of the exploitation system, is distinct. As a result, developing trust-building programs that address priority issues, resolving people's conflicts through increased and established inter-sectoral communication, and implementing multilevel governance are strongly advised. Therefore, by exploiting these results, planners and policymakers can help and plan to improve the resilience of rural communities faced with drought, self-reliance, and rural development.