Climate change is recognized as one of the most critical challenges of the present century, profoundly affecting rural communities whose livelihoods depend on natural resources. Adaptation to these changes serves as a key strategy to mitigate their negative impacts. The success of designing and implementing adaptation strategies requires, above all, accurate understanding and capacity building within rural communities regarding climate change and coping mechanisms. Accordingly, the present study aims to evaluate and analyze rural communities’ adaptation to climate change in southeastern Iran, with the central district of Nimruz County selected as the case study. This research employs a combination of descriptive–analytical methods, including library, documentary, and survey studies. The statistical population consists of household heads residing in 16 sample villages of the central district of Nimruz County. Based on Cochran’s formula, 361 individuals were randomly selected as the sample size. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and ArcGIS software, applying the EDAS model, one-sample t-tests, and repeated measures ANOVA. Findings revealed that although the overall mean adaptation score (3.59) was relatively satisfactory, considerable spatial heterogeneity existed among villages. Villages with better access and awareness (e.g., Faghir Lashkari) demonstrated high adaptation, while remote villages (e.g., Bazi Aliya) exhibited very low adaptation. Among the five dimensions, the economic dimension (mean = 2.96) was identified as the weakest, whereas the physical dimension (mean = 4.27) was the strongest. Alongside economic weakness, the high tendency toward migration, contrasted with low quality of life and social capital, indicated a gap between awareness and practice in the adaptation process.

Climate change is recognized as one of the most critical challenges of the present century, profoundly affecting rural communities whose livelihoods depend on natural resources. Adaptation to these changes serves as a key strategy to mitigate their negative impacts. The success of designing and implementing adaptation strategies requires, above all, accurate understanding and capacity building within rural communities regarding climate change and coping mechanisms. Accordingly, the present study aims to evaluate and analyze rural communities’ adaptation to climate change in southeastern Iran, with the central district of Nimruz County selected as the case study. This research employs a combination of descriptive–analytical methods, including library, documentary, and survey studies. The statistical population consists of household heads residing in 16 sample villages of the central district of Nimruz County. Based on Cochran’s formula, 361 individuals were randomly selected as the sample size. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and ArcGIS software, applying the EDAS model, one-sample t-tests, and repeated measures ANOVA. Findings revealed that although the overall mean adaptation score (3.59) was relatively satisfactory, considerable spatial heterogeneity existed among villages. Villages with better access and awareness (e.g., Faghir Lashkari) demonstrated high adaptation, while remote villages (e.g., Bazi Aliya) exhibited very low adaptation. Among the five dimensions, the economic dimension (mean = 2.96) was identified as the weakest, whereas the physical dimension (mean = 4.27) was the strongest. Alongside economic weakness, the high tendency toward migration, contrasted with low quality of life and social capital, indicated a gap between awareness and practice in the adaptation process.

Climate change is recognized as one of the most critical challenges of the present century, profoundly affecting rural communities whose livelihoods depend on natural resources. Adaptation to these changes serves as a key strategy to mitigate their negative impacts. The success of designing and implementing adaptation strategies requires, above all, accurate understanding and capacity building within rural communities regarding climate change and coping mechanisms. Accordingly, the present study aims to evaluate and analyze rural communities’ adaptation to climate change in southeastern Iran, with the central district of Nimruz County selected as the case study. This research employs a combination of descriptive–analytical methods, including library, documentary, and survey studies. The statistical population consists of household heads residing in 16 sample villages of the central district of Nimruz County. Based on Cochran’s formula, 361 individuals were randomly selected as the sample size. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and ArcGIS software, applying the EDAS model, one-sample t-tests, and repeated measures ANOVA. Findings revealed that although the overall mean adaptation score (3.59) was relatively satisfactory, considerable spatial heterogeneity existed among villages. Villages with better access and awareness (e.g., Faghir Lashkari) demonstrated high adaptation, while remote villages (e.g., Bazi Aliya) exhibited very low adaptation. Among the five dimensions, the economic dimension (mean = 2.96) was identified as the weakest, whereas the physical dimension (mean = 4.27) was the strongest. Alongside economic weakness, the high tendency toward migration, contrasted with low quality of life and social capital, indicated a gap between awareness and practice in the adaptation process.