Compromise Programing for Prioritizing the Strategies of Improving the Education Level to Increase Public Involvement in Sustainable Development and Protection of Ground Water Resources

Groundwater resources are strategic resources and as Iran is facing a lack of water sources for exploitation, the importance of protecting groundwater resources -which are more immune to drought and pollution compared to surface water resources- has doubled. In the current situation, where most of the aquifers of the country are facing a dramatic drop of water levels, it needs especial consideration. Protection of water resources is an important step in the point of view of sustainable development. However, sustainable development is not possible without high participation of people and stakeholders. Thus, the aim of the present study is the multifactor analysis of the methods of improving the general awareness of the stakeholders for their active presence in the process of implementation of effective groundwater management methods in Kerman-Baghein region. The criteria are chosen from the sustainable development literature and the options are prioritized with multi-criteria decision making in compromise programing. The criteria were: increasing the role of the private sector to invest on advertising, educational programs, level of water saving, entrepreneurship , matching the education method with traditions and the public opinion on protection of water resources, period of implementation of the strategy, improving the role of women in water resource protection process, and flexibility. Using the criteria, among the 10 options of the study, investment on films and animations focused on the subject of water resources and the importance of the environment, creation of a target group of important and influential locals, and finally empowering the NGOs activities , were the preferred options of the study.