Factors Affecting Degradation of Natural Rangelands in Bamyan Center: A Community-Based Investigation

Sustainable rangeland management requires the active participation of all stakeholders to develop comprehensive management strategies. However, the role of these players in sustainable natural resource management is poorly understood. This study aims to (i) investigate the factors contributing to the degradation of natural rangelands based on community knowledge perception and (ii) document valuable information to identify urgent needs for effective administration and strategic planning. The study conducted interviews with 150 beneficiaries, the majority of whom lived in long-term agrosilvopastoral systems. The target groups for this study were local farmers and experts’ groups, with 110 farmers and 40 governmental and non-governmental experts interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings revealed that the most significant priorities for anthropogenic degradation factors include converting natural rangeland to agricultural land, collecting and uprooting plants for fire fuel, animal feed, and medicine; farmers' financial poverty; lack of design and adjustment of grazing systems, lack of information about the importance of rangeland, shortage of technical personnel, lack of clarity in rangeland ownership, and overuse of plant cover. Additionally, drought years, deficient snowfall, and floods were identified as contributors to rangeland degradation. This study emphasizes the urgent need for specific data and community-based rangeland management through cooperation between Indigenous communities and improvements in their traditional institutions, which are vital for responsible rangeland management and the well-being of the people dependent on these resources. Also, it helps the policymakers to consider this prioritization for solving this problem.