Qualitative assessment of the social-environmental components of the Gawooshan dam project from the point of view of the project actors
Subject Areas :
Environmental managment
soheila sefidgar
1
(
M. Sc. of Rural Development, Department of Agricultural Education and Extension, Campus of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
)
farahnaz Rostami
2
(
Assistant professor, Department of Agricultural Education and Extension, Campus of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran (corresponding author).
)
Maryam Tatar
3
(
Ph.D. of Agricultural Education and Extension, Department of Agricultural Education and Extension, Campus of Agriculture, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
)
Received: 2022-10-12
Accepted : 2022-11-08
Published : 2022-09-23
Keywords:
social conflict,
Environmental Impact Assessment,
development,
Gawooshan Dam,
Social impact assessment,
Abstract :
Background and purpose: Many researches have been conducted in the field of social impact assessment of rural projects, but few researches can be found that examine the social impact assessment from the perspective of the stakeholders. This is despite the fact that the evaluation of social effects with the participation of stakeholders can lead to the formulation of more serious programs, better evaluation and management of conflicts in this field. Therefore, the present study investigates the social effects of the dam as perceived by the stakeholders in order to gain a deep insight using the qualitative method.
Methods: The current research has used the qualitative paradigm and the descriptive-interpretive research method to achieve the research goal. For this purpose, 10 key experts (Agricultural Jihad of Kermanshah province, Natural Resources Department and Environment and Water-Regional Department of Kermanshah province) and 28 local people of the villages covered by the project were studied. Data collection was done through focused group discussions, in-depth individual interviews, observation and document study with an average time of 25 to 40 minutes. The interviews were analyzed using the communicative content analysis method. Reliability was established through the control of people's opinions by other interview participants and the researcher's self-review during the data analysis process. Reassurance (validity) was also done by presenting all documents, notes and recorded interviews to the research team after analysis by the researcher.
Results: The results of the interviews showed that the participants in the research evaluated the effects of the dam on the quality of life by expressing 38 positive concepts and improving the sense of place by expressing 5 positive concepts and believe that the implementation of this project will lead to a decrease in social capital by expressing 23 The concept of impact and damage to natural and environmental resources has been defined by expressing 10 concepts of impact.
Discussion and conclusion: The results of the research show the impact of the implementation of development projects on all social, economic and environmental aspects of the residents of the region. Therefore, planners and officials are advised to pay attention to the evaluation of all dimensions of development, especially the social dimensions of the residents of the affected areas, in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the programs in the implementation of development interventions at the strategic level.
References:
References
Salinas, T; & Oliveira, Vládia & Brito, Liana & Ferreira, André & de Araújo, José. (2019). Social impacts of a large-dam construction: the case of Castanhão, Brazil. Water International. 44. 1-15. 10.1080/02508060.2019.1677303.
A. K. (2012). Impacts of Large Dams: Issues, Opportunities and Constraints. in: Tortajada C Altinbilek D Biswas AK Water resources development and management: impact of large dams a global assessment. Springer, Spain2012.
Karmi, G., and Rezaei Moghadam, K. (2015). Analyzing the effects and consequences of development programs: lessons for institutionalizing participation and social sustainability. 1. 1395; 1 (2): 96-116. (In Persian).
Asselin, J., & Parkins, J. R. (2009). Comparative Case Study as Social Impact Assessment: Possibilities and Limitations for Anticipating Social Change in the Far North. Social Indicators Research, 94(3), 483–497. doi:10.1007/s11205-009-9444-7.
Basa, K. K. (2007). Social Impact Assessment (A MODULE).
Ahmadvand M, Karami E. (2009). A social impact assessment of the floodwater spreading project on the Gareh–Bygone plain in Iran: a causal comparative approach. Environ Impact Assess Rev; 29:126–36.
Tatar, M & Papzan, A & Ahmadvand, Mostafa. (2019). Explaining the Good Governance of Agricultural Surface Water Resources in the Gawshan Watershed Basin, Kermanshah, Iran. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology. 21. 1379-1393
Fathniya, A., Sharaft, M., and Najafi, J. (2018). Investigating land use changes and local climate in the Gaveh Rood river basin before and after the construction of Gawooshan Dam. Geography and Development, 17(54), 205-222. (In Persian).
Azmi, A., Ali Beigi, A.H., Mirkzadeh, A.A, and Darban Astaneh, A.R (2016). Evaluation of the social effects of water-based projects in the west of the country (case study of irrigation and drainage networks of Gawooshan Dam). Iranian Irrigation and Drainage Journal. 1(12), 88-99. (In Persian).
Maleki, A., and Rahmati, M. (2016). Evaluation of the natural and human effects of transferring water from the Gawooshan dam on the Mian Darband plain in Kermanshah province. Natural Geography Quarterly. 10(37), 31-43. (In Persian).
Malek Hoseini, A., Mirakzadeh, A. A., & Lioutas E. (2017). The Social Impacts of Dams on Rural Areas: A Case Study of Solaiman Shah Dam, Kermanshah, Iran. Journal of
Sustainable Rural Development, 1(2), 189-198. https://doi. org/10.29252/jsrd.01.02.189.
Fearnside, P. M. (2016). Environmental and social impacts of hydroelectric dams in Brazilian Amazonia: Implications for the aluminum industry. World development, 77, 48-65.
Noor, , and Rahman, S. (2021). Social Impacts of a Mega-Dam Project as Perceived by Local, Resettled and Displaced Communities: A Case Study of Merowe Dam, Sudan. Economies 9: 140. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/economies90401.
Ahmadvand, M., Karami, E. & Iman, M.T. (2011). Modeling the determinants of the social impacts of agricultural development Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 31(1):8-16.
Fukuyama, H. (1997). Investigating productive efficiency and productivity changes of Japanese life insurance companies. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 5(4), 481-509.
Guba, E. G., Lincoln, Y. S, Competing paradigms in qualitative research, Handbook of qualitative research, London CA: Sage., 1994
Gulakov, I; Vanclay, F & Arts, J. (2020) Modifying social impact assessment to enhance the effectiveness of company social investment strategies in contributing to local community development, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 38:5, 382-396, DOI: 10.1080/14615517.2020.1765302.
McDonald, Kristen, Peter Bosshard, and Nicole Brewer. (2009). Exporting dams: China’s hydropower industry goes global. Journal of Environmental Management 90: S294–S302.
McCully, P (15). Silenced Rivers: The Ecology and Politics of Large Dams Development, 2nd ed. London: Zed Books.
World Health Organization (WHO). (1999). World health report 1999. Geneva: WHO.
Barrow CJ. (2000). Social impact assessment: an introduction. London: Edward Arnold.
Hayati, D; Karami, E; & Slee B. (2006). Combining qualitative and quantitative methods in the measurement of rural poverty: the case of Iran. Soc Indic Res 2006; 75:361–94.
Connor, R. (2015). The United Nations world water development report 2015: water for a sustainable world (Vol. 1). UNESCO publishing.
Veenhoven R. (2002) Why social policy needs subjective indicators. Soc Indic Res .2002;58:33–45
Cowan, R., and N. Jonard (2004): “Network structure and the diffusion of knowledge,” Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 28(8), 1557–1575.
Uphoff, N.; Wijayaratna, C.M. (2000). Demonstrated benefits from social capital: The productivity of farme organizations in Gal Oya, Sri Lanka. World Dev. 2000, 28, 1875–1890.
Park, H, Takuji W. Tsusaka, Valerien O. Pede, and Kyung-Min Kim. (2017). The Impact of a Local Development Project on Social Capital: Evidence from the Bohol Irrigation Scheme in the Philippines. Water 9, no. 3: 202. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9030202.
Henrich, J.; Boyd, R.; Bowles, S.; Camerer, C.; Fehr, E.; Gintis, H.; McElreath, R.; Alvard, M.; Barr, A.; Ensminger, J.; et al. (2005)“Economic man” in cross-cultural perspective: Behavioral experiments in 15 small-scale societies. Behav. Brain Sci. 2005, 28, 795–815.
Williams, D. R., Patterson, M. E., Roggenbuck, J. W. & Watson, A. E. (1992). Beyond the commodity metaphor: Examining emotional and symbolic attachment to place. Leisure Sciences, 14: 29-46.
Harvey, D.C. (2001). Heritage pasts and heritage presents: temporality, meaning and the scope of heritage studies. International Journal of Heritage Studies. 7 (4): 319-338.
Rojas, F.; Rodríguez, P.; Marchant, C.; Troncoso, R. Los espacios rurales en Chile. Reflexiones sobre sus transformaciones e implicancias en las últimas cuatro décadas. In Chile Cambiando: Revisitando la geografía Regional de Wolfgang.
Vanclay, F., Esteves, A. M., Aucamp, I., & Franks, D. M. (2015). Social Impact Assessment: Guidance for assessing and managing the social impacts of projects.
_||_References
Salinas, T; & Oliveira, Vládia & Brito, Liana & Ferreira, André & de Araújo, José. (2019). Social impacts of a large-dam construction: the case of Castanhão, Brazil. Water International. 44. 1-15. 10.1080/02508060.2019.1677303.
A. K. (2012). Impacts of Large Dams: Issues, Opportunities and Constraints. in: Tortajada C Altinbilek D Biswas AK Water resources development and management: impact of large dams a global assessment. Springer, Spain2012.
Karmi, G., and Rezaei Moghadam, K. (2015). Analyzing the effects and consequences of development programs: lessons for institutionalizing participation and social sustainability. 1. 1395; 1 (2): 96-116. (In Persian).
Asselin, J., & Parkins, J. R. (2009). Comparative Case Study as Social Impact Assessment: Possibilities and Limitations for Anticipating Social Change in the Far North. Social Indicators Research, 94(3), 483–497. doi:10.1007/s11205-009-9444-7.
Basa, K. K. (2007). Social Impact Assessment (A MODULE).
Ahmadvand M, Karami E. (2009). A social impact assessment of the floodwater spreading project on the Gareh–Bygone plain in Iran: a causal comparative approach. Environ Impact Assess Rev; 29:126–36.
Tatar, M & Papzan, A & Ahmadvand, Mostafa. (2019). Explaining the Good Governance of Agricultural Surface Water Resources in the Gawshan Watershed Basin, Kermanshah, Iran. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology. 21. 1379-1393
Fathniya, A., Sharaft, M., and Najafi, J. (2018). Investigating land use changes and local climate in the Gaveh Rood river basin before and after the construction of Gawooshan Dam. Geography and Development, 17(54), 205-222. (In Persian).
Azmi, A., Ali Beigi, A.H., Mirkzadeh, A.A, and Darban Astaneh, A.R (2016). Evaluation of the social effects of water-based projects in the west of the country (case study of irrigation and drainage networks of Gawooshan Dam). Iranian Irrigation and Drainage Journal. 1(12), 88-99. (In Persian).
Maleki, A., and Rahmati, M. (2016). Evaluation of the natural and human effects of transferring water from the Gawooshan dam on the Mian Darband plain in Kermanshah province. Natural Geography Quarterly. 10(37), 31-43. (In Persian).
Malek Hoseini, A., Mirakzadeh, A. A., & Lioutas E. (2017). The Social Impacts of Dams on Rural Areas: A Case Study of Solaiman Shah Dam, Kermanshah, Iran. Journal of
Sustainable Rural Development, 1(2), 189-198. https://doi. org/10.29252/jsrd.01.02.189.
Fearnside, P. M. (2016). Environmental and social impacts of hydroelectric dams in Brazilian Amazonia: Implications for the aluminum industry. World development, 77, 48-65.
Noor, , and Rahman, S. (2021). Social Impacts of a Mega-Dam Project as Perceived by Local, Resettled and Displaced Communities: A Case Study of Merowe Dam, Sudan. Economies 9: 140. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/economies90401.
Ahmadvand, M., Karami, E. & Iman, M.T. (2011). Modeling the determinants of the social impacts of agricultural development Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 31(1):8-16.
Fukuyama, H. (1997). Investigating productive efficiency and productivity changes of Japanese life insurance companies. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 5(4), 481-509.
Guba, E. G., Lincoln, Y. S, Competing paradigms in qualitative research, Handbook of qualitative research, London CA: Sage., 1994
Gulakov, I; Vanclay, F & Arts, J. (2020) Modifying social impact assessment to enhance the effectiveness of company social investment strategies in contributing to local community development, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 38:5, 382-396, DOI: 10.1080/14615517.2020.1765302.
McDonald, Kristen, Peter Bosshard, and Nicole Brewer. (2009). Exporting dams: China’s hydropower industry goes global. Journal of Environmental Management 90: S294–S302.
McCully, P (15). Silenced Rivers: The Ecology and Politics of Large Dams Development, 2nd ed. London: Zed Books.
World Health Organization (WHO). (1999). World health report 1999. Geneva: WHO.
Barrow CJ. (2000). Social impact assessment: an introduction. London: Edward Arnold.
Hayati, D; Karami, E; & Slee B. (2006). Combining qualitative and quantitative methods in the measurement of rural poverty: the case of Iran. Soc Indic Res 2006; 75:361–94.
Connor, R. (2015). The United Nations world water development report 2015: water for a sustainable world (Vol. 1). UNESCO publishing.
Veenhoven R. (2002) Why social policy needs subjective indicators. Soc Indic Res .2002;58:33–45
Cowan, R., and N. Jonard (2004): “Network structure and the diffusion of knowledge,” Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 28(8), 1557–1575.
Uphoff, N.; Wijayaratna, C.M. (2000). Demonstrated benefits from social capital: The productivity of farme organizations in Gal Oya, Sri Lanka. World Dev. 2000, 28, 1875–1890.
Park, H, Takuji W. Tsusaka, Valerien O. Pede, and Kyung-Min Kim. (2017). The Impact of a Local Development Project on Social Capital: Evidence from the Bohol Irrigation Scheme in the Philippines. Water 9, no. 3: 202. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9030202.
Henrich, J.; Boyd, R.; Bowles, S.; Camerer, C.; Fehr, E.; Gintis, H.; McElreath, R.; Alvard, M.; Barr, A.; Ensminger, J.; et al. (2005)“Economic man” in cross-cultural perspective: Behavioral experiments in 15 small-scale societies. Behav. Brain Sci. 2005, 28, 795–815.
Williams, D. R., Patterson, M. E., Roggenbuck, J. W. & Watson, A. E. (1992). Beyond the commodity metaphor: Examining emotional and symbolic attachment to place. Leisure Sciences, 14: 29-46.
Harvey, D.C. (2001). Heritage pasts and heritage presents: temporality, meaning and the scope of heritage studies. International Journal of Heritage Studies. 7 (4): 319-338.
Rojas, F.; Rodríguez, P.; Marchant, C.; Troncoso, R. Los espacios rurales en Chile. Reflexiones sobre sus transformaciones e implicancias en las últimas cuatro décadas. In Chile Cambiando: Revisitando la geografía Regional de Wolfgang.
Vanclay, F., Esteves, A. M., Aucamp, I., & Franks, D. M. (2015). Social Impact Assessment: Guidance for assessing and managing the social impacts of projects.
