Assessment of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of drought on the stakeholders of the Karganeh watershed in Iran

Drought is a creeping phenomenon characterized by a gradual reduction in precipitation and increased temperatures, whose cumulative effects often manifest over extended periods. This study employs a quantitative approach to analyze the economic, social, and environmental impacts of drought on stakeholders in the Karganeh Watershed, Iran. A sample of ۱۳۰ stakeholders (including farmers, pastoralists, nomads, and local council members) was selected via simple random sampling from a total population of N = ۱۹۷, using Cochran's formula for precision. Data were collected through a researcher-administered questionnaire, validated by an expert panel, and demonstrating high reliability (Cronbach’s α = ۰.۸۲۹). Data analysis using the Friedman test revealed the following ranked impacts: Socio-Economic Impacts: The most severe consequences were a significant decrease in agricultural and horticultural income (mean rank = ۱۶.۱۳), a reduction in crop yield (mean rank = ۱۶.۰۱), and a decrease in orchard yield (mean rank = ۱۶.۰۹). Environmental Impacts: The most critical impact was the destruction of springs and drying of wells (mean rank = ۹.۳۶), followed by the reduction of groundwater and surface water resources (mean rank = ۷.۵۱) and an increase in pests and diseases affecting orchard trees (mean rank = ۶.۷۴).The findings quantitatively demonstrate that water resource depletion constitutes the primary environmental challenge, while severe reductions in income and agricultural productivity are the foremost socio-economic concerns. These results underscore the critical need for integrated water resource management and economic diversification strategies to enhance resilience in the watershed.

کلیدواژه ها:

Drought impacts ، stakeholders ، content validity and reliability of the questionnaire ، Friedman test