Analysis of Effective Communicative and Information Factors on Attracting Public Participation in Conservation of Natural Resources in Zanjan Province, Iran

ABSTRACT: The main purpose of this study is the analysis of effective communicative and information factors in attracting of public participation to conservation of natural resources in Zanjan province. A survey was conducted among intermediate managers of the department of natural resources and watershed of Zanjan province (N=132). 105 of managers were surveyed based on random sampling. The main tool of this study was questionnaire; face validity of which was approved by a panel of expert (University of Tehran faculties). For determining the reliability of questionnaire, Cronbachesʹ alpha coefficient was calculated which was 0.93 for the main scale of questionnaire, that is communicative and information factors. Analysis of the data was done with SPSS software. The results revealed that, from the respondentsʹ perspective, effective communicative and information factors on attracting public participation for conservation of natural resources includes six factors of holding meetings, formation of consulting groups, mass media, printed materials, methods of problem solving and reaching agreement and informing activities. These six factors, in whole, explained approximately 76.039 percent of variance. The results of this study can help managers and planners in designing strategies and plans for improving public participation in conservation of natural resources.