Collective local governance of traditional water reservoirs (Ab-bandans) in Mazandaran province, Northern Iran, is gradually disappearing. Using the concept of social capital, we explore how and why components of social capital (trust, co-operation, social network cohesion, leadership roles, and conflict resolution) among various local stakeholders influence water management through semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with key local stakeholders (29 interviews). We used NVivo software to code the interview transcripts through the identification of relevant themes. Our results indicate that the most important component of social capital for local community water management is conflict resolution. Local community leaders play a crucial role in promoting and facilitating cooperation and conflict resolution among communities through negotiation and conciliation mechanisms. However, these mechanisms have proved inadequate in providing lasting resolution of conflicts between neighbouring communities over water management. Since the Iranian government has overall responsibility for water management, we recommend it engage directly in the resolution of local water conflicts to ensure lasting solutions acceptable to all local stakeholders.

中文翻译：

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社会资本在水库治理中的作用：来自伊朗北部的证据

伊朗北部马赞德兰省传统水库 (Ab-bandans) 的集体地方治理正在逐渐消失。使用社会资本的概念，我们探讨了不同地方利益相关者之间的社会资本的组成部分（信任、合作、社会网络凝聚力、领导作用和冲突解决）如何以及为何通过半结构化、面对面的方式影响水资源管理。与当地主要利益相关者进行面谈（29 次面谈）。我们使用 NVivo 软件通过识别相关主题来对采访笔录进行编码。我们的结果表明，当地社区水资源管理的社会资本最重要的组成部分是解决冲突。当地社区领袖在通过谈判和调解机制促进和促进社区之间的合作和冲突解决方面发挥着至关重要的作用。然而，事实证明，这些机制不足以持久解决邻近社区之间关于水资源管理的冲突。由于伊朗政府全面负责水资源管理，我们建议它直接参与解决当地的水资源冲突，以确保所有当地利益相关者都能接受持久的解决方案。