The Impacts of Zarivar Wetland on the Sustainable Livelihoods of Rural Households

The wetlands are one of the valuable ecosystems with diverse functions which could affect the livelihood of local people. The present study aiming to evaluate the effects of Zarivar wetland in Marivan township on households’ livelihood assets living around the wetland. As a descriptive-analytical research using both documentary and survey methods, necessary data were gathered by a structured questionnaire based on the sustainable livelihood framework of the Department for International Development. The study area was Marivan township and studied population consisted of 1539 household heads of the seven villages around the wetland in which 230 individuals were selected as a sample using Cochran`s formula. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software. Based on the findings, there was a positive and significant relationship between the five dimensions of livelihood assets and the households` livelihood level. According to the results of regression analysis, 65.1 percent of dependent variable (households’ livelihood level) was explained by the four main assets including financial, natural, social and physical. This indicated the vital role of livelihood assets of the wetland on the rural livelihood level as well as the dependency of the rural areas on the functions and benefits of the wetland. Zarivar wetland is an economic and environmental opportunity in the region and could be turned into a strategy in order to withdrawal of the area from the economic and geographical isolation.