Title: Determinants of land use change in Fars province, Iran

Authors: Mahsa Fatemi; Ezatollah Karami; Kurosh Rezaei-Moghaddam

Addresses: Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran ' Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran ' Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, School of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract: Land degradation and low agricultural productivity are among major negative impacts of changes in land use in many developing countries. This paper reports the findings of research investigating dynamics of changes in land use in the Fars province, Iran. The survey research was used to study land use changes in Shiraz and Sarvestan counties of this province to investigate causes and consequences. Data from 60 Dehyars (village heads) and 257 farmers (n = 317) in 60 villages were compiled and analysed using stratified random sampling. Results indicate that the area of agricultural lands in the villages studied increased significantly in the 30-year period under study. Analysis showed that population growth, distance to service centres, mean of temperature, controllability of production resources, social pressure and increased land price constitute the major determinants of land use change. It is suggested to establish a systematic and comprehensive planning process for land use management that can be promoted through the extension process.

Keywords: land; land use; sustainable development; environment; extension; Iran.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2017.087000

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2017 Vol.13 No.3, pp.272 - 293

Received: 09 Dec 2016
Accepted: 04 Aug 2017
Published online: 03 Oct 2017 *

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