ABSTRACT

Introduction

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century, with widespread impacts on human societies and ecosystems. Among the most vulnerable groups are rangeland users, particularly nomadic pastoralists and traditional livestock herders. Rangelands play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, livestock forage provision, and soil stabilization. However, climate change has significantly reduced vegetation quality and coverage, accelerated soil erosion, and diminished rangeland productivity. These environmental changes pose serious threats to nomadic livelihoods while weakening their adaptive capacity.

Methodology

This study employed a descriptive-analytical approach based on field surveys. Data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with representatives of nomadic beneficiaries. The statistical population consisted of approximately 20,000 nomads in the Dashtestan region. The sample size included 79 individuals from the fifth-term nomadic councils of the Rahimlou and Shesh Bolouki clans of the Qashqai tribe, selected through purposive sampling as a complete sample.



Geographical area of research

The geographical scope of this research is the winter pasture (Qeshlaq) region of Dashtestan County in Bushehr Province. Situated in southern Iran, this area is characterized by a hot and arid climate. The rangelands of this region play a vital role in providing forage for livestock among nomadic communities, as they rely on these pastures for grazing their herds during the winter season.

Results and discussion

the findings revealed that nomadic users in the Qeshlaq region perceived the most significant impacts of climate change in the form of "reduced precipitation," "decline and drying of surface water sources," and "decreased vegetation cover." In contrast, factors such as "changes in the timing and location of winds" and the "emergence of new insects and pests" were considered less significant.

Furthermore, using a scale from 1 (very weak) to 5 (very strong), the average adaptive capacity of the users was assessed as follows: economic dimension – 1.76, social dimension – 2.14, infrastructure – 2.34, knowledge – 2.41, and institutional/governance – 2.00. The overall average adaptive capacity was 2.13, indicating a moderate level of adaptive capacity within this community in the face of climate change.



Conclusion

The results of the study indicate that enhancing the adaptive capacity of nomads in the winter pasture (Qeshlaq) regions requires a multifaceted approach. Key strategies include increasing governmental financial and technical support, developing essential infrastructure, improving access to informational and educational resources, and strengthening economic diversification among beneficiaries. Implementing these measures can significantly improve their resilience to the impacts of climate change.



Key words: Adaptive Capacity, Climate Change, Dashtestan District, Rangeland, Qashqai Nomads.