ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCHES
Year:2010 | Volume:1 | Issue:1|Papers Count:9

In different ages, human has deliberately and unintentionally destroyed the nature and caused species extinctions. This degradation has created many concerns because it has been more severe and faster than any previous natural devastation. Therefore, despite data shortage and nature’s complexities, it is necessary to move towards better and more appropriate nature conservation approaches and diminish human-caused disasters or at least reduce them to the minimum level. There are different approaches to selection of lands for conservation. Landscape ecology approach is one of the newest approaches that uses metric indices such as shape, size, structure and linkages between different covers or patches that are important for meeting conservation objectives. The main objective of this study was to apply landscape metrics approach for systematic selection of conservation patches in Golestan Province of Iran. Accordingly, the technique of Conservation Assessment Prioritization Systems (CAPS) was used. It is based on landscape metrics and is integrated with other ecologically important factors such as river health. After classification of the land into forest, rangeland, river, city and village on the satellite image, the landscape metrics were derived using FRAGSTATS software. Subsequently, a multi-criteria evaluation with weighted linear combination procedure was used for combining different layers of the metrics and determining suitability of land for conservation. An Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used by some experts to assign weights to the factors included in the weighted linear combination method. The result of this research produced a land suitability map for the whole province for conservation purposes. We applied the zonal land suitability method and a result 19 zones were introduced for conservation. A descriptive model was also provided that helped in merging the landscape metrics for conservation. The method used for the first time in Iran proved successful. However, we suggest applying it to other areas so as to highlight its strengths and data shortages. The result of this study shows that conservation area of Golestan province is 15 percent (307391.6 ha) without consideration of water resources and with attention to pixel with suitability more than 160. In addition, it provides lowest cost and faster survey in a wide area and is getting popularity for selection of conservation patches.

Environmental degradation model is one of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) methods in which ecological effects of human activities on his surrounding nature can be evaluated and quantified. In this study, we used a degradation model to assess the impact of possible development on Oshtrankooh protected area. To achieve this goal, at first the study area was divided into five hundred fifty four, 225 ha impact units (cells) (3x3 cm on the 1:50,000 topographic maps). The ecological vulnerability for each cell was computed and classified using maps of slope, aspect, elevation, climate, and bed rock sensitivity to erosion and earthquake, as well as soil and habitat sensitivity. Then, as much as 11 degradation factors were detected in the study area, and their sensivity was also measured using topographic maps, field observations, expert knowledge and written document. A demographic survey was also carried out to establish population patterns in each cell. Finally, using degradation tables, degradation coefficients for each cell was calculated on spreadsheet. These degradation coefficient values were classified based on fuzzy model to 6 classes and 3 categories. All the cells were then ranked according to the rate of degradation coefficient. The study area was divided into three zones namely: prone to further development (94.58%), need to be rehabilitated (5.06%) and critically impacted areas with an absolute need for conservation measures (0.36 %).

Land use is one of the main factors by which man has affected his environment, and historically the most important land use change induced by human has been the destruction of forest areas and changing them into arable lands and settlements.In this research, assessment of trend of changes in land cover of Arasbaran protected area is carried out by use of three time series of satellite images. The most important land cover classes distinguished in the area are river, orchards, settlements, farms, bare lands, rangelands and forests.Findings show that the reduction of valuable forest areas of Arasbaran which is noticeable in the period of 2002 to 2006, grows with much higher speed in 2006 to 2008 in a way that in only two years, more than 10 percent of forest land cover has disappeared which this destruction trend is very considerable.

First, the land form mapping units (combination of slope, elevation, aspect) were prepared in Arc GIS 9.1 and Arc view 3.3. Then environmental units map (landform, Soil, plant cover) was depicted. Finally by applying Ecotourism Model of Iran, the ecological capability of the area was evaluated. Results indicate a 5% capability for intensive recreation (class 2), 50% extensive recreation (class), and 45% as such for class 2.

Recent year's population growth and urbanization development has led to increase in demands for natural spaces in the cities. Since these spaces, mostly are among public goods with free access for the public who often use them without receiving admission, the real value of these spaces have been neglected by most visitors and they do not estimate the value of their outing, which can lead to lack of efficient and optimal use of these places. Economic valuations of these spaces not only increase their protection by users, but it creates a good background for planning and management of these spaces by decision makers and planners. In this study the value of Darakeh mountainous region, that is located in northern Tehran, has been estimated by using contingent valuation method.In this study, 216 surveys with various questions have been completed by visitors and they express their willingness to pay for using the site. The factors that affecting the amount of willingness to pay for admission to recreation area, has been evaluated by using Tobit single stage model and Hickman two-stage recreation model. Estimation results by Tobit model shows that willing to pay for using the recreational area of Darakeh has been increased by increasing some variables like income, number of people in household, type of house, the amount of pollution in work place and level of recreational facilities in the mountainous region. With using estimated parameters by linear regression model, the average annual willingness to pay for each visitor in Darakeh mountainous region is equal to 3362/8 Rials ($5) and value per hectare of Darakeh area outing in 1388 was estimated nearly fifty millions Rials ($ 50000).

Planning and strategic management is one of the most important feature of management system in an organization.Strategic management is a mixture of art and science, which has multifunction duties for making decision and will give the power to organization in order to achieve its targets.Keeping the environment safe has caught views of many people and institutions in recent decades worldwide. Human’s unrestricted economic activities and communities’ dependency on nature to make living, have decreased habitats’ and ecosystems’ diversity and threaten wild life. Effective and appropriate use of "Planning and strategic management" of Mand protected area by using SWOT(Strengths & Weaknesses , Opportunities & Threats) methods, and QSPM (Quantities Strategic Planning Matrix) as measuring functional indicatives in Planning and strategic management were the goal of this study.According to results taken from analysis at MOND protected area in- BUSHIHR Province, grading resulted as 4.75, 5.45, and 6.05. So, the strategy of using protective approaches won the first grade as priority plan for the area.

Environmental Impact Assessment aims at avoiding negative effects on the environment by identifying, predicting and interpreting information of the potential impacts of a development on the environment. The main aim of the current research is the environmental impact assessment of the Persian Gulf international tourism city. The proposed area for this project is located in 15th Km of eastern shore of Bandar Abbas city, at the conjunction of Rud_e_Shour, Shirin and Minab River International Wetland (Ramsar Site). Although this project bring about considerable positive effects in the region, such as development of tourism, job opportunity and economic growth in the area, however its negative impact outweight positive ones. The worst negative impacts related to this project are disturbing the ecosystem balance of Shour, Shirin and Minab River International Wetland and other sensitive coastal area of marine ecosystems, besides threatening important and predominant wildlife species and ground water resources. Detailed environmental parameters and project activities during construation and utilization have been identified based on similar projects and technical documents. The Simple Matrix and Spatial Analysis (Map overlaying and Geographical Information System) methods were the tools used to make the assessment. So, based on the results from the assessment the project is rejected due to ecological sensitivity of the area. But, due to its importance in the economic growth of the region, it is suggested that its site construction be carried out according to environmental criteria.