Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Environmental Resources Research 2783-4832 11 2 2023 12 01 Managing drought on rangelands: adaptive strategies as perceived by pastoralists in Jiroft county 167 178 6691 10.22069/ijerr.2024.20994.1396 EN Azam Khosravi ‎Associate Professor, Department of Ecological Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft, Jiroft, Iran Mohsen Sharafatmandrad Associate Professor, Department of Ecological Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Jiroft, Jiroft, Iran Journal Article 2023 01 18 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.‎ https://ijerr.gau.ac.ir/article_6691_7817b88a5ca186eb469a394e3720ba97.pdf