Socio-Ecological Model Validation for Sustainable Nomadic Rangeland Management in Kermanshah, Iran

Rangelands are critical socioecological systems that sustain biodiversity, ecological services, and pastoral livelihoods, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. Yet, these landscapes face accelerating degradation due to unsustainable grazing, climatic pressures, and weak policy integration, posing serious threats to ecological stability and community resilience. This study addresses this challenge by validating a socioecological model for sustainable management of nomadic rangelands in Kermanshah Province, Iran, where nomadic pastoralist communities remain central to land stewardship. An applied quantitative research design was employed, with data collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 250 randomly selected households from a population of 13 800 nomadic pastoralists. Structural Equation Modeling was conducted using SPSS 26 and SmartPLS 3 to test the hypothesized relationships. Model evaluation employed factor loadings, Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability, average variance extracted, and the Fornell–Larcker criterion for measurement validity, along with path coefficients, R², f², and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual for structural validity. Results revealed that socioeconomic drivers strongly influence sustainable rangeland management, whereas contextual and intervening conditions significantly shape strategic choices and governance outcomes. The validated model underscores the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge, participatory governance, and adaptive policy frameworks. These findings contribute both theoretically—by empirically validating a socioecological framework—and practically, by offering an evidence-based foundation for designing policies that enhance resilience and sustainability in nomadic pastoral systems.