Performance Evaluation of the Natural Resources Conservation Unit to Fulfill Ecological Conservation Principles for Sustainable Land Management

The purpose of this research was to analyze and evaluate the performance of the Natural Resources Conservation Unit for the implementation of the principles of ecological conservation in line with sustainable land management. The statistical population of this study included all provinces of the country and the results of field visits and reports received to the headquarters of the protection unit. In this research, the units’ performances were analyzed based on monthly statistics that were sent to the headquarters of the provinces and the associated indicators in Excel 2010 and SPSS 16.0 software. The results of this study revealed a significant increase in most of the evaluated indicators since the formation of the unit. In other words, the number of cases and violations dropped including forest destruction and econroachment, range destruction and encroachment, tree and bush felling, tree deskinning and burning, bush collection and illegal livestock grazing by 24.17%, 27.77%, 57%, 90.33%, 23.74% and 2% respectively. On the other hand, the detention cases and the number of the arrested persons showd an increase for indicators including tree deskinning and burning, bush collection, charcoal production kiln, felled tree volume, charcoal volume, confiscation of facilities and vehicles by 13.53%, 71.85%, 73.47%, 90%, 77.16%, 48.57%, 55.60% and 53.53% respectively. These values clearly show the inhibition capability of the unit and reduction of violations. Also volume of correct and incorrect reports and detension of male and female violators have increased by 62.36%, 83.96%, 75.90% and 82.31% respectively. Sustainable land management is secured when water and soil conservation plans are developed and implemented, and also, security guards are actively involved in the natural areas.