Multiplicity of Stakeholders and the Mamloo Watershed Crisis: Applying Document Analysis to Identify the Consequences
Authors
1
Doctoral researcher of Urban Planning, Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
3
Professor emeritus, Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/wmji.2025.2070777.1128
Abstract
Water crises in Iran’s watersheds have intensified in recent decades، particularly in the peri urban areas surrounding Tehran، due to multiple pressures on limited water resources. The Mamloo watershed، as one of the main sources of Tehran’s drinking water supply and a focal area for agricultural، industrial، and residential activities، represents a critical example of this complex situation. The aim of this study is to identify the consequences of stakeholder multiplicity in shaping and deepening the Mamloo watershed crisis. The research adopts a qualitative approach based on thematic analysis and document analysis، conducted through the review of reports، documents، and related data, using MAXQDA software. The findings indicate that a centralized and hierarchical management structure، coupled with the absence of effective coordination mechanisms among governmental، non-governmental، and local community stakeholders، has weakened institutional capacity، intensified conflicts، and reduced the effectiveness of policies. This managerial crisis has led to inefficiencies in watershed governance and aggravated challenges in water resource exploitation. From an economic perspective، the inequitable allocation of water resources and the prioritization of urban drinking water have reduced agricultural productivity، increased unemployment، and threatened food security within the watershed. Environmental consequences include unsustainable extraction of surface and groundwater resources، increased pollution from urban and industrial wastewater، and inappropriate land-use changes، which have resulted in land subsidence، biodiversity loss، and heightened ecosystem vulnerability. Furthermore، social conflicts arising from poor coordination and lack of stakeholder participation have triggered farmer dissatisfaction and rural out-migration. Accordingly، the establishment of integrated watershed management based on institutional transparency، effective participation of local stakeholders، revised water allocation، and multi-level (national، regional، local) coordinated policymaking is deemed essential for achieving sustainable development and enhancing the resilience of the Mamloo watershed. Such an approach can mitigate exploitation conflicts while strengthening the ecological، economic، and social resilience of the region.
Keywords
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