Strategies for Preserving the Environment of Rural Settlements in Fereydunshahr County

The environment in rural areas is different and of particular importance due to specific rural conditions, especially as it has gradually faced new challenges due to the expansion of technology. In this study, the goal is to identify the factors affecting the destruction and preservation of the environment of rural settlements in Cheshmeh Langan Rural District, Fereydounshahr County. In this study, the research method is descriptive and based on survey data. The statistical population in this study consisted of two groups of local people (rural households) and experts familiar with the region. The sample size was 130 rural household heads and 15 experts. Factor analysis was used to evaluate villagers' opinions and the SWOT model was used to analyze experts' opinions. The results of factor analysis from the perspective of rural people showed that the set of comments raised in people's opinions were introduced in 8 factors in order of importance under the headings of environment, social dimensions, physical factors, education and media, crop harvesting, pressure on water resources, rural dispersion, and inequality in access to resources. Each of these factors naturally includes a number of variables that are effective in protecting the environment of rural areas. From the experts' perspective, strengthening the awareness and insight of villagers through mass media and monitoring the region's rangeland management plans are the most important factors of strength and opportunity for environmental protection, and the lack of coordination between related agencies, and the arrival of urban tourists are the most important points of weakness and threat to the region's environment. 

Extended Abstract
 
Introduction
The present study simultaneously investigated the factors of destruction and environmental protection solutions in Cheshmeh Langan Rural District of Fereydounshahr County as a model rural area. This area is welcomed by tourists due to its springs, streams, natural waterfalls, beautiful nature, clean climate, and pristine environment, but due to the poverty of rural people, poor management, and general inattention to the importance of protecting the rural environment, it faces a high level of environmental destruction. Considering the region's existing potential for tourism and job creation in this field, if the environment is not protected, we will witness the destruction of resources and the migration of more residents of this area. This study is aimed at better understanding the problem and providing solutions to reduce environmental and ecological risks in the future of the region.
 
Methodology
This research is an applied research. The research method is descriptive and based on survey data, which was carried out by collecting information from two statistical populations; first, 130 heads of households from rural people through a rural household questionnaire on the state of the environment and local factors of rural environmental degradation, and second, 15 experts familiar with regional issues through an expert questionnaire on the environment and strategies for preserving the rural environment. Data analysis and content evaluation of people's opinions were carried out using factor analysis and SPSS software. In order to achieve the desired strategies, in analyzing the set of people's and experts' points of view using the SWOT model and separating and analyzing the variables affecting the regional environment in four areas of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, solutions for preserving the rural environment of the region have been presented.
 
Results and Discussion
Analysis of the results of rural questionnaires using factor analysis reveals a remarkable classification of factors affecting the rural environment of the region. The most effective destructive events mentioned by rural people include; inappropriate use of the amount and type of fertilizer and poison, excessive grazing of livestock, pollution of surface and underground water resources, and soil degradation due to traditional irrigation. According to the loaded indicators, this factor is called the "environmental" factor and alone accounts for 29.6 percent of the variance. The second factor, which is named as the social factor, with 16.72 percent of the variance, includes the variables; low literacy level of rural people, rural migration, small and fragmented agricultural lands, lack of development of non-agricultural economic activities, and rural poverty. The variables; The distribution of rural housing, unprincipled and environmentally inappropriate construction, the lack of a centralized administrative system, and the lack of necessary structures for the conservation and transfer of water in the region have formed the indicators under the third factor, titled Physical. According to experts, among the 8 factors considered as strengths in preserving the rural environment of the region; the factor "the presence of a temperate mountainous climate and abundant water" with a weight of 0.552 will have the greatest impact on protecting the rural environment. Immediately after it is "the ability to attract tourists" with a weight of 0.512 and "the presence of ecotourism areas in the region" with a weight of 0.357. In this ranking, the presence of fertile soil and vast plains in the region with a weight of 0.256 is considered to have a relatively smaller role than other factors contributing to the process of environmental protection. The result shows that the beautiful nature and potential tourism can be effective in preserving and developing the rural environment of the region. In the field of rural environmental protection, experts consider the factor of incoordination of the agencies in environmental matters with a weight of 0.360 as the most important internal weakness, followed immediately by the factor of lack of attention to rural management with a weight of 0.351. Meanwhile, the factor of rural poverty has also been raised as a factor threatening environmental protection measures, although with a weight of 145, it is predicted to be the least important factor. According to experts, the process of developing modern irrigation systems (with a weight of 0.752) is recognized as an action that introduces technology and in some cases facilities from outside the region into the regional environmental system, and is considered the most important opportunity to help preserve the rural environment of the region. From the experts' point of view, the factor of the indiscriminate entry of urban tourists into the region with a weight of 0.696 as the most important threats from outside the region and the lack of efficient laws and regulations (with a weight of 0.684) as well as planning and policymaking from above (with a weight of 0.628), according to the statistical community, can have negative environmental effects on the rural environment of the studied region.
 
Conclusion
The result of the factor analysis from the perspective of rural people showed that the set of comments raised in the people's opinions were introduced in 8 factors in order of importance under the headings; environment, social dimensions, physical factors, education and media, crop harvesting, pressure on water resources, rural dispersion, and inequality in access to resources. Each of these factors naturally includes a number of effective variables in protecting the environment of rural areas. From the experts' perspective, strengthening the awareness and insight of villagers through mass media and monitoring the region's rangeland management plans are the most important factors of strength and opportunity for protecting the environment, and the lack of coordination of related agencies, and the arrival of urban tourists are the most important points of weakness and threat to the region's environment.