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Conflicts over natural resources increase due to a lack or limitation of natural resources and an increasing demand for growing populations. The current research aimed to investigate the conflict management between people and natural resources organizations. A list of local beneficiaries was obtained from Office of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Kalatnader County, Khorasan-Razavi Province, Iran. The beneficiaries were surveyed through the inperson interview as well as a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed and modeled by SPSS and Amos softwares. The results indicated that 52% of the respondents had a positive attitude towards natural resources, but 36% were in conflict with the Office, 41% with other institutions, and 43% with other ranchers. Sixty seven percent of participants believed that collaboration with other ranchers could be a solution for the conflict. The most important influencing variables were social trust and violence, which could explain the dependent variable up to 71%. As a result, a conflict resolution approach and advancing negotiation techniques are needed to resolve disputes. Furthermore, the preparation of comprehensive cadastral maps, detailed investigation of conflicting issues, and continuous updating of the investigation process lead to a reduction of land conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical impacts of a disaster are usually the most obvious impacts, and they are easily measured. However, there is not sufficient in-depth understanding of social issues arising after disasters. This qualitative study explored three main concepts regarding social issues after an earthquake in an Iranian context: social vulnerability, social uncertainty and confusion, and ignorance of local social capital. Negligence of social issues after disasters leads to delays in returning back to normal life. Policymakers are encouraged to take a comprehensive plan into account which considers these issues and facilitates the process of returning to normal life after earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Using qualitative social research methods at the farm family level, this paper considers the social impacts of drought on two purposefully-selected villages in Fars Province, Iran. It examines the experience of drought on different types of farm families, specifically the less vulnerable, the resource poor, and the very resource poor. Our results show that all three groups experienced economic impacts of drought, but more importantly they all suffered major social impacts as well. The less-vulnerable families sought diversified sources of income in order to cope with drought. The vulnerable families (resource poor and very resource poor) were more affected by social and emotional impacts than less-vulnerable families. The economic and social impacts that were experienced included: reduced household income; shortage of alternative income sources; increased workload; conflict of water access and water use; food insecurity, shortages and associated malnutrition; health impacts and reduced access to health services; reduced access to education; inequitable drought relief and associated stress and conflict; rural to urban migration; impoverishment and reduced quality of life; psychological and emotional impacts including depression, frustration and alienation; changed family plans such as delaying marriage; and family and community disharmony and disintegration. Recommendations and implications for drought management policy are offered to reduce the negative social impacts of drought. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]