Strategic Analysis of the Status of Wetland Education Centers in the Country for the Wise Use of Wetlands

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D Graduate, Department of Agricultural Extension, Communication and Rural Development, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

2 Ph.D. Student, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Hydraulic, Hydro-Environmental Engineering, Water Research Institute, Ministry of Energy, Tehran, Iran

10.30473/ee.2025.73654.2815

Abstract

Wetlands are among the most beautiful, ecologically significant, yet highly fragile ecosystems. In developed countries, governments facilitate wetland conservation by providing educational, research, and recreational opportunities for public engagement. One of the key initiatives in this regard is the establishment of wetland education centers. Although these centers have existed globally for over half a century, their history in Iran is less than two decades old, and their current status significantly lags behind the envisioned objectives. This applied research aims to assess the existing conditions of wetland education centers and propose strategic measures for their development. The statistical population of this study consisted of 42 executive experts from wetland education centers across the country, and data were collected through participatory workshops. Initially, a SWOT analysis framework was utilized to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of these centers. Subsequently, the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) was employed to prioritize feasible strategic approaches. The findings indicate that the strategic positioning of the country’s wetland education centers falls within the third quadrant (minimum–maximum area), signifying a critical need for intervention. The most significant recommended strategies include organizing wetland ecotourism tours to introduce and promote these centers, formulating a national education, participation, and awareness-raising framework, and enhancing local community engagement in wetland conservation efforts. The results of this study will help policymakers and decision-makers in the wetland sector, especially in the Environmental Protection Organization, to gain a complete understanding of the current status of wetland education centers and develop a coherent and comprehensive plan at the national level to improve their performance.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abedi, T., & Abedin Zadeh, N. (2021). “Strategic analysis of the CEPA program of Amirkelayeh Wetland using the SWOT-QSPM technique for conservation and sustainable utilization”. Journal of Natural Environment, 74(3), 554–571. [In Persian] https://doi.org/10.22059/jne.2021.326630.2244
Akbari, R., Ghaderian, M., & Montazeri, M. (2015). “The query around efficiency of SWOT technique with present suggestive comprehensive model for urban issue (Case study: Strategic planning in rural fabric of NaeimAbad, Yazd)”. Hoviatshar, 9(22), 87–98. [In Persian] https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.17359562.1394.9.22.8.8
Amin Fanak, D., Rezaei, R., & Kahrizi, Z. (2023). “Identification and Analysis of the Barriers to Farmers' Participation in the Revitalization of Lake Urmia Mahabad Sub-Basin”. Journal of Water and Sustainable Development, 10(3), 51–60. [In Persian]                  https://doi.org/10.22067/jwsd.v10i3.2303-1225
Amin Fanak, D., Rezaei, R., & Zeinalzadeh, K. (2023). “Identification and Explanation of Barriers to Water Resources Protection in the Urmia Lake Basin: A Qualitative Study”. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 54(1), 73–88. [In Persian]         https://doi.org/10.22059/ijaedr.2022.342469.669146
Bayat, P., Saboohi Sabuni, M., Kikha, A., Ahmadpour Borazjani, M., & Karami, E. (2016). “Effectiveness and modification of existing laws and its effect on water sector performance: Application of path analysis”. Agricultural Economics and Development, 24(95), 167–190. [In Persian]
Budak, D. B., Budak, F., Zaimoglu, Z., Keke, C. S., & Sucu, M. Y. (2005). “Behaviour and attitudes of students towards environmental issues at faculty of agriculture, Turkey”. Journal of Applied Sciences, 5, 1224–1227.           https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/link_gateway/2005JApSc...5.1224B/doi:10.3923/jas.2005.1224.1227
Dehestaniathar, S., Nesari, S., Borzooei, S., & Abolfathi, S. (2021). “Application of natural biodegradable fiber as biofilm medium and carbon source in DEnitrifying AMmonium OXidation (DEAMOX) process for nitrogen removal from wastewater”. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 119, 108–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2021.03.019
Department of Environment of Iran. (2024). “Statistics on the number of wetland education centers. Tehran, Iran. [In Persian]
Eghbali, J., Kalantari, K., Asadi, A., & Javid, M. J. (2020). “Content analysis of the century of water legislation in Iran”. Water and Irrigation Management, 10(1), 113–129. [In Persian]
Gitay, H., Finlayson, C., & Davidson, N. (2011). “A Framework for assessing the vulnerability of wetlands to climate change”. Gland, Switzerland: Ramsar Convention Secretariat; Montreal, Canada: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Ramsar Technical Report No. 5.
Goldman, D., Assaraf, O. B. Z., & Shaharabani, D. (2013). “Influence of a non-formal environmental education programme on junior high-school students’ environmental literacy”. International Journal of Science Education, 35(3), 515545. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2012.760034
Hejazi, S. J., Zarei, R., & Goodarzi, M. (2011). “Investigation and evaluation of geographical and environmental impacts of tourism using AHP model (Case study: Shadegan International Wetland)”. Wetlands Quarterly, 3(9), 59–70. [In Persian]
Kalantari, K., Shaban, A., Fami, H., Asadi, A., & Movahed Mohammadi, H. (2007). “Investigating factors affecting environmental behavior of urban residents: A case study in Tehran city-Iran”. American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3(2), 67–74.           https://doi.org/10.3844/ajessp.2007.67.74
Karanja, J. M., Matsui, K., & Saito, O. (2018). “Problems of public participation in the Ramsar CEPA programme at the Tana Delta, Kenya”. Wetlands Ecology and Management, 26(4), 525–535. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11273-017-9589-0
Let, M., & Pal, S. (2023). “Socio-ecological well-being perspectives of wetland loss scenario: A review”. Journal of Environmental Management, 326,116692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116692
Mitsch, W. J. (2005). “Applying science to conservation and restoration of the world’s wetlands”. Water Science and Technology, 51, 13–26.                    https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2005.0215
Otte, M. L., & Fang, W. T. (2014). “Drivers of education about wetlands”. In Proceedings of the International Wetlands Conference on Environmental Education (Eds T.-Y. Leu, W.-T. Fang). Taijiang National Park Headquarters, Construction and Planning Agency, Ministry of the Interior, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC (pp. 18–19).         http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/2.1.1122.7842
Ramsar Secretariat. (2014). “Handbook on the Best Practices for Planning, Design and Operation of Wetland Education Centres”. Gland, Switzerland: Ramsar Convention Secretariat. Available at:              http://www.ramsar.org
Rezaei, R., Safa, L., & Amin Fanak, D. (2022). “Identifying and analyzing strategies for developing sustainable agricultural activities in West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan provinces to restore Lake Urmia”. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Extension and Education Sciences, 18(1), 1–19. [In Persian]       https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.20081758.1401.18.1.2.5
Rezaei, S., & Rezaei Moghaddam, K. (2024). “Determinants of local community participation in the restoration of Parishan Wetland”. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Extension and Education Sciences, 20(1), 1–21. [In Persian]            https://doi.org/10.22034/iaeej.2024.443010.1789
Roy, M. B., Samal, N. R., Roy, P. K., & Mazumdar, A. (2010). “Human wetland dependency and socio-economic evaluation of wetland functions through participatory approach in rural India”. Water Science and Engineering, 3(4), 467–479. https://doi.org/10.3882/j.issn.1674-2370.2010.04.009
Safa, L., Rezaei, R., & Aminfanak, D. (2022). “Developing the strategies to diversify the rural households' livelihoods to revitalize Lake Urmia”. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research, 53(2), 515–537. [In Persian] https://doi.org/10.22059/ijaedr.2022.332146.669090
Sarkis, J., Gonzalez-Torre, P., & Adenso-Diaz, B. (2010). “Stakeholder pressure and the adoption of environmental practices: The mediating effect of training”. Journal of Operations Management, 28(2), 163–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2009.10.001
Savari, M., Shabanali Fami, H., Iravani, H., & Asadi, A. (2018). “Collecting the strategies to stabilize the livelihood of small-scale farmers and training common strategies considering sustainability and vulnerability in drought conditions”. Quarterly Journal of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 6(3), 137–156. [In Persian]             https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.23223057.1397.6.3.10.0 
Varela-Candamio, L., Novo-Corti, I. and García-Álvarez, M. T. 2018. The importance of environmental education in the determinants of green behavior: A meta-analysis approach. Journal of cleaner production, 170: 1565-1578.         https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.09.214 
Journals of Environmental Education and Sustainable Development
Volume 14, Issue 3
June 2026
Pages 9-31

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics