managing drought on rangelands: adaptive strategies as perceived by pastoralists in jiroft county

Drought is one of the most important challenges to pastoralists in arid and semi-arid regions, so ‎it is necessary to reconsider drought management strategies on rangelands. this study was done ‎to identify the best strategies for drought management on rangelands based on nomadic and ‎rural pastoralists’ perception in jiroft county, kerman province. data for this study were collected ‎through the administration of questionnaires. the findings, as determined by multiple regression analysis, ‎highlight the utmost significance of certain management strategies during drought conditions for ‎pastoralists. specifically, water management (p<0.0001), forage management (p<0.001), and income ‎diversification (p<0.05) emerged as the most vital elements in drought management. furthermore, ‎principal component analysis (pca) revealed that employing suitable irrigation techniques, ‎engaging in recreational activities, purchasing forage, and effectively storing water are critical ‎sub-criteria for enhancing drought management strategies. nomadic pastoralists considered ‎moving livestock to rangelands with better condition and changing the livestock type as the ‎important strategies for drought management. given that rural and nomadic pastoralists expressed ‎reluctance to reduce their livestock numbers during drought periods, implementing such a strategy ‎necessitates governmental arrangements and financial support. the findings underscore the preference of ‎pastoralists for reactive drought management methods over preventive strategies, highlighting the ‎necessity of raising awareness among pastoral communities about the risks associated with drought. ‎overall, the indigenous knowledge held by pastoralists has the potential to enhance existing ‎management plans aimed at mitigating the consequences of drought.‎