Measuring the adaptive capacity of rangeland users under drought stress in North-eastern Iran: application of social network analysis

Drought events have significant impact on ecosystems and the livelihoods of rural communities in Iran. So, the purpose of this study was the analysis and evaluation of dimensions of adaptive capacity (AC) against drought in Bajestan county, Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. A questionnaire was used to collect data for social network analysis (SNA) and AC by the full network method. Then, a combined SNA-SEM model was developed to determine what was the social response of rangeland users in dealing with drought. In this study, the AC of rangeland users was compared in two groups of villages covered by the collaborative management or Carbon Sequestration Project (CSP) and uncovered by CSP. The results confirmed that the villages under CSP had higher levels of AC and social capital. Among five capitals, indicators of economic resources and information, skills and management were more effective on AC. Among the SNA indexes, effsize, constrain, indirects, density and betweenes centrality are more effective on AC of rangeland users. Results showed that identifying the key actors, who have the power and influence to determine the information flow and financial inflows in these components, can help increase the AC of rangeland users to mitigate effects of drought.