Interaction of Farmers with Natural Ecosystems: The Role of Farmers' Decisions about the Conservation of Qare Gheshlaq Wetland

This study intended to investigate the decisions of different kinds made by farmers about preserving the Qare Qeshlaq wetland by saving water resources in the farmlands (2019-2022). Using survey data collected from 298 farmers of the rural areas on the edge of the wetland, as being randomly stratified, they were asked to participate in an interview along with filling out a self-implemented questionnaire (n=298). We gained insight into the association of being aware of wetland protection projects with participation in projects, subjective norms contribute to differentiating participants from non-participants in wetland protection projects. The behavioral intention to take care of the wetland also determines the strategy of using water saving-water technologies. The perceived effects of wetland protection projects affect the behavioral intention to save water resources. Furthermore, cultural bias has a negative effect on the behavioral intention to save water resources. Behavioral intention also has a positive and significant effect on the behavior of saving water resources, and the behavior itself affects the intention of wetland protection. In the concluding section, management implications were presented to increase the participation of farmers in saving water resources and wetland protection projects.