Assessing the Economic, Social, Environmental, and Physical Impacts of Industrial Estates on Surrounding Rural Areas: A Case of Central District in Boyer-Ahmad County

Introduction

Industrial estates, resulting from industrialization, serve as vital links between industry, agriculture, and rural development. Establishing these estates near rural areas is essential for societal progress, particularly in developing countries. Previous experience shows that clustering industrial units within bio-complexes fosters economic, social, environmental, and physical transformations at regional and local levels. This clustering helps address rural issues by creating complementary production flows, supporting agriculture, providing non-agricultural employment, and improving rural welfare. However, industrial areas can also negatively impact local communities. This research focuses on identifying the unknown economic, social, physical, and environmental effects of the Yasouj 3 industrial estate on the surrounding rural areas of Boyer-Ahmad county, an area that has not been comprehensively studied.

Methodology

This survey research aimed to assess the impacts of industrial estates on surrounding rural areas in the central district of Boyer-Ahmad County. The study involved 299 household heads from nearby and distant villages to the Yasouj 3 industrial estate, with 161 from Far-Field villages and 138 from Near-Field villages selected randomly based on the Bartlett sampling table. A researcher-developed questionnaire, validated by experts and tested for reliability, was used for data collection. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranged from 0.62 to 0.71, indicating good reliability. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 21, and the Morris analytical model ranked the study's objective indicators, with the coefficient of variation (C.V.) assessing the dispersion of these indicators.



Results and discussion

Based on the findings of factor analysis, three factors were identified as having significant social impacts: sense of place and economic-social security in the region, motivation and peace in the region, and cultural-welfare. These factors collectively accounted for 45.50% of the overall social impacts. Additionally, four factors were identified as having significant economic impacts: agricultural status, employment and income, capital status, and poverty. These factors collectively accounted for 52.91% of the total variance of economic impacts. Four factors were also identified as having significant environmental impacts: density and diversity of species, quantity and quality of water, environmental quality, and health. These factors collectively accounted for 52.44% of the total variance of environmental impacts. Finally, four factors were identified as having significant physical impacts as pressure on local resources, organizing road infrastructure, road quality, and access to facilities. These factors collectively accounted for 51.14% of the total variance of physical impacts of establishing industrial estates in the surrounding rural areas. A one-sample t-test was used to examine the impact of industrial estates on the surrounding rural areas.

Results showed that industrialization's economic and physical-structural impacts were desirable for nearby residents, while the environmental impacts were undesirable. Specifically, in the social dimension, industrialization had a positive impact on spatial and economic-social security perception and cultural-welfare, but a negative impact on motivation and peace in the region. Regarding the economic dimension, establishing industrial estates improved the agricultural status, employment and income, and capital status while reducing poverty. A similar analysis for the physical dimension shows that industrial states led to the organizing of road infrastructure, improved the quality of transportation roads, and enhanced access to facilities, but increased pressure on resources. However, an analysis of the environmental dimension's impacts revealed that industrial states had a negative impact on the density and diversity of species, quantity and quality of water, environmental quality, and health. In the distant villages, the economic and physical impacts of industrialization were perceived positively by the residents, while the environmental impacts were negative. However, the impact of industrialization was not significant in the social dimension. Ultimately, the results obtained from the Development Index (D.I.) showed that the establishment of industry in the surrounding areas had various impacts on social, physical-structural, and environmental indicators, leading to improved social and physical-structural conditions. Nevertheless, it had an undesirable impact on the environmental situation. A comparison of the coefficient of variation (C.V.) showed that establishing industrial estates had the most significant impact on environmental and physical-structural indicators and the least on social indicators.



Conclusion

To mitigate industrial impacts on the environment, it is essential to develop conservation and resource management strategies. This includes maintaining species diversity, improving environmental quality, and prioritizing health in planning and policy-making. Implementing strict laws and monitoring industrial activities is crucial. Due to unsatisfactory environmental conditions, improving social and physical infrastructure based on regional needs is also necessary. The study highlights the need for increased attention to environmental issues and research across social, physical, and environmental areas. Its findings are relevant for industrial and rural development organizations, guiding policymakers in proposing effective solutions to reduce industrial impacts on rural areas.