An Analysis of Factors Affecting Watershed Residents Participation in Watershed Management Activities (Case Study: Ben Watershed, Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province)

Watershed management plans are being implemented to maintain water resources as huge resources of the country and in accordance with the development of watersheds and achieving sustainable development. The most successful watershed management plans are those plans that have been able to coordinate the watershed objectives and the needs of the people. Basically, programs that are not popularly supported do not have the capability and enforceability Participation, co-operation and informed and responsible presence of residents of watersheds in promoting different programs and affairs can ensure the sustainable management of watersheds. Current research project was accomplished in order to investigate and understand the residents' willingness to participate in watershed management and its influential factors, as well as to identify areas for attracting the participation of watershed residents in appropriate watershed management activities using appropriate participatory tools and techniques, in the Ben watershed in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari province. The research was conducted in a field observation and answer to questionnaire by the residents of the catchment area. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS software. Based on the results, the participation of watersheds is directly related to the adaptation of watershed management activities to the needs of villagers and their knowledge about the benefits of watershed management projects.