نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 گروه احیا مناطق خشک و کوهستانی، دانشکده منابع طبیعی، دانشگاه تهران، کرج، ایران
2 مرکز تحقیقات و آموزش کشاورزی و منابع طبعی استان اصفهان، اصفهان، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Objective: The present study aimed to identify the main issues within the Astragalus tragacanth value chain and to deeply analyze the lived experience of the local community regarding the factors affecting exploitation, environmental challenges, harvesting process, economic structure, and the level of ecological-social resilience of the rangelands in Tiran and Karvan County. The study focused on understanding field realities and integrating indigenous and institutional knowledge to propose a practical framework for improving the management and enhancing the added value of the tragacanth product. In this regard, the main research problem is the ecological unsustainability of the rangelands and the unfair economic structure of the value chain, which has led to the weakening of the livelihoods of exploiters, reduced product quality, and the destruction of Astragalus tragacanth species.
Methodology: The research employed a qualitative methodology based on thematic analysis, following the six-step model by Braun and Clarke. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, direct observation, and the review of local documents. Sampling was conducted using a purposive-chain method, and 11 participants, including experienced exploiters, natural resources experts, traders, and value chain activists, were selected. The interviews were recorded and transcribed after obtaining consent, and data analysis was performed using open, axial, and conceptual aggregation coding. Peer assessment, constant comparison, and participant verification methods were used to enhance credibility. The output of the analysis included 162 initial codes, 17 sub-themes, and 6 main themes, representing various dimensions of the Astragalus tragacanth value chain in the region.
Findings: The findings revealed that exploitation management is influenced by a gap between formal regulations and indigenous knowledge, and complex bureaucracy, insufficient monitoring, human resource limitations, and informal costs have reduced the effectiveness of the management system. In the environmental dimension, successive droughts, changes in precipitation patterns, increased temperatures, pests, and unprincipled harvesting have led to widespread bush desiccation and reduced rangeland regeneration capacity. In the production sector, reduced participation of experienced individuals and the entry of unskilled laborers have resulted in the spread of improper tapping techniques and a decline in product quality. An examination of the economic structure showed that the value chain is heavily controlled by intermediaries and exporters, and the exploiters receive only a small share of the final profit. Smuggling, raw sales, lack of price transparency, and lack of access to formal markets are significant challenges. In the processing area, it was found that the absence of processing industries, local packaging, and standardization results in the loss of added value and employment opportunities, creating extensive dependence on raw exports. Finally, the ecological-social resilience analysis indicated that rangeland degradation, weak support structures, and reduced transfer of indigenous knowledge have severely diminished the resilience of the ecosystem and the local community, and their economic dependence on tragacanth makes them vulnerable to crises.
Conclusion: Based on the thematic analysis, the sustainability of the Astragalus tragacanth value chain requires the reform of monitoring and licensing structures, the design of participatory models utilizing indigenous knowledge, training in specialized harvesting skills, the development of local processing and packaging units, the creation of marketing cooperatives, and increased price transparency. Furthermore, rangeland restoration, mitigation of exploitation pressure, and the development of programs adaptable to climate change are essential for strengthening ecological resilience. The present study, by combining the perspectives of the local community and formal institutions, offers a practical framework for improving the value chain and enhancing the livelihoods of exploiters, which is generalizable to the management of other medicinal rangeland species.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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