Volume 11, Issue 39 (Spring 2022 2022)
serd 2022, 11(39): 163-182 |
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Yousefi Taleghani A, Molaei Hashjin N, Rezaei P. Explaining the economic and social factors affecting land use changes in peripheral rural settlements of Rasht. serd 2022; 11 (39) :163-182
URL: http://serd.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3806-en.html
URL: http://serd.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3806-en.html
1- PhD student in Geography and Rural Planning, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.
2- Professor, Department of Geography, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran. ,Nmollaeih@iaarasht.ae.ir
3- Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.
2- Professor, Department of Geography, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran. ,
3- Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran.
Abstract: (3205 Views)
Introduction
Nowadays, much attention has been paid to discussions and concerns about environmental and land use changes. In such a situation, sustainable land use has become an important analytical-political issue. Land use is considered as an example of human effect on the environment. In developing countries, the issue of land use change is more important due to poor management and disruption of the political and economic structure. Land use change and land cover has become a complex process that involves different variables and factors at different social and spatial levels. The great and potential effect of land use change and land cover on the physical and social environment has created a motivation for research to understand land use change and its main causes and effects. The growth of the population of Rasht and the consequent need for more housing and construction, has led to the physical expansion of the city from various angles. In some cases, this problem has been solved in an unplanned way through land use change, both around cities and in peripheral rural settlements. On the other hand, the migration of some villagers to these rural areas and the lack of a specific authority and institution to control constructions, has caused physical development in an unbalanced way and without an integrated plan. It is clear that in this case, the land use of the agricultural lands of the village will change from agricultural to other uses, especially residential. Therefore, the researcher seeks to answer the following general question in this study: "How can these land use changes be organized in order to preserve land by identifying the factors affecting land use change?"
Methodology
In terms of the method, this research is considered as a descriptive-analytical study. The statistical population of this study is the villages around Rasht City. In the present study, a researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was designed after identifying the economic and social factors affecting agricultural land use change. In fact, in this questionnaire, the respondents were asked to evaluate the effect of each of the socio-economic factors on land use change in the form of Likert scale. This questionnaire was given to the respondents in the villages around the city of Rasht. Finally, 516 questionnaires were completed by the respondents. The data were analyzed by one-sample t-test and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
Discussion and conclusion
The factors affecting land use change on a regional scale were analyzed aiming to identify the mechanism of interaction simulation and predict the process of land use change. Land cover changes not only have a significant effect on the key parts of natural resources, but it has a close relationship with sustainable socio-economic issues. According to the results of the studies, human activities currently play a key role as a factor in land use change. Land use in an improper way can lead to some environmental issues. There is little knowledge on these issues and a brief understanding of the complex factors and processes that control land use change.
It's difficult to identify the factors affecting land use change and their prioritization. The present study investigated the socio-economic factors affecting land use changes in villages around Rasht using a questionnaire technique and based on the views of villagers. According to the results, economic factors are more important and effective on the research issue than social factors. Drought and water scarcity in agriculture created economic problems for farmers and prevented them from engaging in agricultural activities. The change of use from agriculture to residential and service activities has also occurred due to the decline in agricultural activities. Other relevant factors are lack of sufficient budget to purchase agricultural machinery, reduced income of the agricultural sector, lack of financial support in the production stages, the benefits of investing in land and housing, low prices of agricultural products and high prices of agricultural inputs. Social factors, on the other hand, are the pressure of children to sell land, the lack of interest of young people in agricultural activities, the belief in the unsuitable position of agricultural activities, the increase in the tourist population and the migration nature of villages
Nowadays, much attention has been paid to discussions and concerns about environmental and land use changes. In such a situation, sustainable land use has become an important analytical-political issue. Land use is considered as an example of human effect on the environment. In developing countries, the issue of land use change is more important due to poor management and disruption of the political and economic structure. Land use change and land cover has become a complex process that involves different variables and factors at different social and spatial levels. The great and potential effect of land use change and land cover on the physical and social environment has created a motivation for research to understand land use change and its main causes and effects. The growth of the population of Rasht and the consequent need for more housing and construction, has led to the physical expansion of the city from various angles. In some cases, this problem has been solved in an unplanned way through land use change, both around cities and in peripheral rural settlements. On the other hand, the migration of some villagers to these rural areas and the lack of a specific authority and institution to control constructions, has caused physical development in an unbalanced way and without an integrated plan. It is clear that in this case, the land use of the agricultural lands of the village will change from agricultural to other uses, especially residential. Therefore, the researcher seeks to answer the following general question in this study: "How can these land use changes be organized in order to preserve land by identifying the factors affecting land use change?"
Methodology
In terms of the method, this research is considered as a descriptive-analytical study. The statistical population of this study is the villages around Rasht City. In the present study, a researcher-made questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was designed after identifying the economic and social factors affecting agricultural land use change. In fact, in this questionnaire, the respondents were asked to evaluate the effect of each of the socio-economic factors on land use change in the form of Likert scale. This questionnaire was given to the respondents in the villages around the city of Rasht. Finally, 516 questionnaires were completed by the respondents. The data were analyzed by one-sample t-test and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
Discussion and conclusion
The factors affecting land use change on a regional scale were analyzed aiming to identify the mechanism of interaction simulation and predict the process of land use change. Land cover changes not only have a significant effect on the key parts of natural resources, but it has a close relationship with sustainable socio-economic issues. According to the results of the studies, human activities currently play a key role as a factor in land use change. Land use in an improper way can lead to some environmental issues. There is little knowledge on these issues and a brief understanding of the complex factors and processes that control land use change.
It's difficult to identify the factors affecting land use change and their prioritization. The present study investigated the socio-economic factors affecting land use changes in villages around Rasht using a questionnaire technique and based on the views of villagers. According to the results, economic factors are more important and effective on the research issue than social factors. Drought and water scarcity in agriculture created economic problems for farmers and prevented them from engaging in agricultural activities. The change of use from agriculture to residential and service activities has also occurred due to the decline in agricultural activities. Other relevant factors are lack of sufficient budget to purchase agricultural machinery, reduced income of the agricultural sector, lack of financial support in the production stages, the benefits of investing in land and housing, low prices of agricultural products and high prices of agricultural inputs. Social factors, on the other hand, are the pressure of children to sell land, the lack of interest of young people in agricultural activities, the belief in the unsuitable position of agricultural activities, the increase in the tourist population and the migration nature of villages
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