Integrated approach to water resource management in Mashhad Plain, Iran: actor analysis, cognitive mapping, and roadmap development
Abstract Iran's Mashhad Plain faces a severe water crisis due to the excessive exploitation of groundwater, leading to the depletion of its aquifer. While water demand management is recognized as a superior solution compared to supply projects, its implementation presents notable challenges. Th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50697-x |
| _version_ | 1797363422850973696 |
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| author | Mahdi Kolahi Kamran Davary Hamid Omranian Khorasani |
| author_facet | Mahdi Kolahi Kamran Davary Hamid Omranian Khorasani |
| author_sort | Mahdi Kolahi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Iran's Mashhad Plain faces a severe water crisis due to the excessive exploitation of groundwater, leading to the depletion of its aquifer. While water demand management is recognized as a superior solution compared to supply projects, its implementation presents notable challenges. This study addresses the urgent necessity to curtail water demand in the Mashhad Plain by alleviating conflicts among various stakeholders, including water resource managers and consumers. Initially, the research identifies key water resource actors who collaborate in devising a comprehensive roadmap and conceptual model for efficient water resource management. An analysis uncovers significant conflicts among actors, representing approximately 6% of identified issues, with minor conflicts in 30% of cases. Encouragingly, stakeholders demonstrate potential for consensus on the remaining conflict items, with specific actors emerging as pivotal in conflict resolution. Efficient water resource management in regions facing scarcity, diverse interests, and sustainability challenges demands a multifaceted strategy. Future endeavors involve developing a dynamic system model to simulate policy impacts and strengthen conflict resolution efforts. This research introduces a roadmap-driven approach aimed at resolving conflicts and implementing water demand management in the Mashhad Plain. It emphasizes the critical need to address water scarcity challenges while effectively mitigating conflicts among water resource stakeholders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:21:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1ff8198d2cab492dbc46c7eee87c6019 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:21:09Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-1ff8198d2cab492dbc46c7eee87c60192024-01-07T12:19:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-01-0114111710.1038/s41598-023-50697-xIntegrated approach to water resource management in Mashhad Plain, Iran: actor analysis, cognitive mapping, and roadmap developmentMahdi Kolahi0Kamran Davary1Hamid Omranian Khorasani2Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Water and Environment Research Institute, Ferdowsi University of MashhadFaculty of Agriculture, Water and Environment Research Institute, Ferdowsi University of MashhadInnovative Ecosystem CompanyAbstract Iran's Mashhad Plain faces a severe water crisis due to the excessive exploitation of groundwater, leading to the depletion of its aquifer. While water demand management is recognized as a superior solution compared to supply projects, its implementation presents notable challenges. This study addresses the urgent necessity to curtail water demand in the Mashhad Plain by alleviating conflicts among various stakeholders, including water resource managers and consumers. Initially, the research identifies key water resource actors who collaborate in devising a comprehensive roadmap and conceptual model for efficient water resource management. An analysis uncovers significant conflicts among actors, representing approximately 6% of identified issues, with minor conflicts in 30% of cases. Encouragingly, stakeholders demonstrate potential for consensus on the remaining conflict items, with specific actors emerging as pivotal in conflict resolution. Efficient water resource management in regions facing scarcity, diverse interests, and sustainability challenges demands a multifaceted strategy. Future endeavors involve developing a dynamic system model to simulate policy impacts and strengthen conflict resolution efforts. This research introduces a roadmap-driven approach aimed at resolving conflicts and implementing water demand management in the Mashhad Plain. It emphasizes the critical need to address water scarcity challenges while effectively mitigating conflicts among water resource stakeholders.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50697-x |
| spellingShingle | Mahdi Kolahi Kamran Davary Hamid Omranian Khorasani Integrated approach to water resource management in Mashhad Plain, Iran: actor analysis, cognitive mapping, and roadmap development Scientific Reports |
| title | Integrated approach to water resource management in Mashhad Plain, Iran: actor analysis, cognitive mapping, and roadmap development |
| title_full | Integrated approach to water resource management in Mashhad Plain, Iran: actor analysis, cognitive mapping, and roadmap development |
| title_fullStr | Integrated approach to water resource management in Mashhad Plain, Iran: actor analysis, cognitive mapping, and roadmap development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrated approach to water resource management in Mashhad Plain, Iran: actor analysis, cognitive mapping, and roadmap development |
| title_short | Integrated approach to water resource management in Mashhad Plain, Iran: actor analysis, cognitive mapping, and roadmap development |
| title_sort | integrated approach to water resource management in mashhad plain iran actor analysis cognitive mapping and roadmap development |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50697-x |
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