Geography and Environmental Sustainability
Year:2024 | Volume:14 | Issue:3|Papers Count:7

To preserve natural resources, realize economic growth, and achieve sustainable development goals, realizing sustainable competitiveness is the most important tool. Places must have the ability to compete in the market, innovate and adapt to changes, and experience sustainable growth and development. With sustainable competitiveness, places can ensure their survival against competitors and have a significant impact on the economy and society. To achieve the mentioned goals, it is necessary to know the factors affecting sustainable competitiveness. In this regard, in the present research, the ranking of sustainable competitiveness indicators among the cities of Zanjan province has been discussed first, and then the factors affecting sustainable competitiveness have been identified using the future research approach and Mic Mac software. The type of research is applied and descriptive-analytical. The statistical population of the research is 8 cities of Zanjan province according to the political divisions of 1400. To collect information, two library methods have been used (explaining the theoretical foundations, and background of the subject, and collecting dimensions and indicators in the field of competitiveness indicators) and a survey (questionnaire). The survey method, using a survey of 17 experts in the fields of Geography, economics, and management was used to score the candidates. The criteria used to measure the sustainable competitiveness of the cities of Zanjan province are from the 1400 statistical yearbook of Zanjan province. The analysis of the results of the direct effects of the five factors shows that the highest level of influence is related to the governance factor with a net transitory impact of 15 the natural capital factor with a net impact of 5, and the lowest level of influence is related to the infrastructure factor with a net impact of -1.   Extended Abstract 1-Introduction With an area of 22,164 square kilometers and a share of 1.34% of the total area of the country, Zanjan province ranks 20th among the provinces of the country. The gross domestic product of the province at current prices in 2018 is equal to 3410,891 billion Iranian rials and with a share of 0.95% it ranks 22nd among the provinces of the country. Also, the gross domestic product of the province without oil was 314,891 billion Iranian rials this year, which ranks 24th in the country. In the ranking of the country's provinces in terms of economic growth rate at constant prices of 2010, Zanjan province was ranked 7th in 2010. Also, from 2015 to 2020, the gross domestic product of the province at constant prices increased by 1.2 times with an average annual growth of 3.9% and increased from 56.249 billion Iraninan rials to 147.67 billion Iraninan rials. The assessment of the province's gross domestic product distribution among the cities shows the existence of severe inequality between the cities of the province in such a way that the two cities of Zanjan and Abhar account for 70% of the province's gross domestic product, so to reduce the inequality between the cities in the province and achieving sustainable regional competition that will lead to the sustainable development of all the cities of the province, it is necessary to provide suitable drivers, in this regard, in this research, the present study aims to study the drivers of sustainability competitiveness in the cities of Zanjan province and the format of the questions is as follows: - At what level is the level of sustainable competitiveness of the cities of Zanjan province? - What are the most important drivers of achieving sustainable regional competitiveness among the cities of Zanjan province? 2-Materials and Methods This research is descriptive-analytical in terms of applied purpose and terms of nature and method. Two library and field methods (questionnaires) have been used to collect information. In the library method, the theoretical foundations, the background of the subject, and the compilation of dimensions and indicators in the field of competitiveness indicators and effective drivers were done. For this purpose, first of all, the research conducted so far was reviewed and analyzed to extract the indicators and components used. In the field section, using a survey of 17 experts in the fields of geography, economics, and management, scoring was done for the runners. The criteria used to measure the sustainable competitiveness of the cities of Zanjan province are from the 1400 statistical yearbook of Zanjan province. The coefficient of variation (CV) was used to determine the distribution of sustainable competitiveness indicators in the area of the cities of the province. After determining the weight of selected indicators based on Shannon's entropy model, Todim's multi-criteria decision-making method will be used to stratify the sustainable competitiveness of the cities of Zanjan province, as well as Mic Mak software will be used to determine the most important drivers. 3- Results and Discussion The findings obtained from the Todim model ranking show that in the economic sustainability index, Zanjan and Abhar cities have the highest score, and Ijerud and Khodabande cities have the lowest score. In the intellectual capital index, the cities of Zanjan and Khorramdare have the highest scores, and the cities of Ijerud and Mahenshan have the lowest scores. In the index of natural resources, Zanjan and Mahenshan cities have the highest points and Khorramdara and Abhar cities have the lowest points. In the social capital index, the cities of Ijroud and Mahenshan have the highest points and the cities of Zanjan and Abhar have the lowest points. In the resource efficiency index, Zanjan and Abhar cities have the highest points and Ijerud and Mahenshan cities have the lowest points. In the ranking related to sustainable competitiveness, Zanjan and Abhar cities have the highest points and Ijroud and Mahenshan cities have the lowest points. The analysis of the results of the direct effects of the five factors shows that the highest level of influence is related to the governance factor with a net transitory effect. 15 and the factor of natural capital with a net impact of 5 and the lowest level of impact is related to the infrastructure factor with a net impact of -1 value.   4- Conclusion Sustainable competitiveness is crucial for the development of a place. Sustainable competitiveness enables places to experience sustainable growth and development. By competing in the market, venues can increase their market share, attract new customers, and increase their revenue and profits. This growth and development provides the possibility of investing in new technologies, developing new products and services, and expanding into new markets. The findings of this research show that there is a significant difference between the cities of Zanjan province in terms of development and indicators of sustainable competitiveness. Also, based on the findings of this research, good governance is the most effective driver for sustainable competitiveness among the cities of Zanjan province. Quality and transparent governance creates internal and external trust in the organization. With transparency in the processes, decisions, and performance of the organization, the members of the organization can better understand how decisions are made and what principles are followed. This transparency and trust, in turn, contributes to the organization's sustainable competitiveness, as members become more committed and eager to collaborate and contribute their ideas and innovations. Good governance makes the organization take responsibility for proper improvement, management, and control. An organization that implements accountability well can plan effectively, perform and follow up activities, and correct errors.

Zoning of protected areas increases the sustainability of these areas by reducing the conflict between protection and public uses. In the implementation of the biosphere reserve model, as a key lever for promoting sustainable development, zoning has been neglected. The purpose of this research is to zoning Dana district based on the spatial analysis of changes in the structural integrity of the landscape and the ethnography of place values from the perspective of communities. For this purpose, adaptation to the habitat, conservation value, distance from the area of popular use, and changes in the structural integrity of the land surface have been mapped, classified, and superimposed. The zones have been allocated by comparing the obtained units with the logical letter model. Based on the results, during about thirty years, the spatial changes in the structural coherence of the landscape of the land have been significant. At higher altitudes, the landscape structure has remained relatively unchanged, but at lower and middle altitudes, it has undergone a destructive process. The biggest reduction in structural integrity has occurred around settlements, rivers, and highways. Areas with conservation value are assigned to the core area. In the shield area, it is desired to maintain the connection between a large genuine spot inside the core and the surrounding spots. Public uses are considered outside the protection core and as far as possible outside the shield zone. Large areas of Dena district have been identified as public use areas, which are highly compatible with the transition. In this area, it is necessary to train and empower local communities by relying on alternative livelihoods and entrusting them with part of the protection supervision. Based on comparing the old and proposed zoning, the new approach, in addition to allocating wider areas for protection, with the allocation of public use zones, is the basis for creating a native people's protected area.   Extended Abstract 1-Introduction Focusing too much on protecting specific areas in degraded landscapes causes isolated management and neglect of sustainable community use in wider landscapes. To reduce the conflict between protection and community uses, it is necessary to review and update the zoning methods for protected areas at least once every decade. One of the most important models in this field is the Biosphere Reserve. The review of studies on the subject of zoning protected areas in Iran shows that the method used and the results obtained were mostly focused on ecological data and ignored the surroundings of these areas, attitudes of local communities, and transition zones. This methodological framework has neglected new content and perspectives. The purpose of this research is to conduct conservation zoning of the Dena district based on the spatial analysis of changes in the landscape's structural integrity and the ethnography of the place values based on the view of local communities. The reason for choosing this area is that the old oak habitat in this village, adjacent to the Dena protected area, has been left unprotected.   2-Materials and Methods In this research, ecological-social indicators (such as overlap to the habitat, overlap with the conservative value from the point of view of local communities, distance from the community use zone, and changes in the landscape's structural integrity) have been mapped. Then the classified maps of these indicators have been overlayed and the land units have been identified. By comparing these units with the logical letter model, each unit is allocated to a specific zone. For example, the areas that have the least decrease in structural integrity, the greatest distance from the community use zone, and also overlap with habitats and areas with conservative value, are assigned to the core zone. Also, the object-oriented method has been used to classify land cover in 1989 and 2018. Changes in the structural integrity of the forest have been mapped by using the moving window method and by using the metrics and indexes of the landscape ecology. In addition, ethnography is done by field observation and collaborative mapping. The field of attracting participation has been the collection of location data of local activities, which is based on the place values in the landscape.   3- Results and Discussion For about thirty years, rapid spatial changes around and within the Dena protected area have led to the degradation of forest lands. At higher altitudes and slopes, the landscape structure has remained relatively unchanged, but in more flat lands, there has been a destructive process. The greatest decrease in structural integrity has occurred around settlements, rivers, and highways. In the proposed zoning, areas inside and outside the protected area have been assigned to the core area. Community uses have been tried to be considered outside the core zone and as much as possible outside the buffer zone. The community use zone has a high adaptability to be allocated to the transition zone. In the Dena district, it is necessary to educate and empower local communities by promoting alternative livelihoods, as well as entrusting parts of monitoring and stewardship to them. Based on the comparison of the conventional (old) zoning and the proposed (new) zoning, the new approach supports the creation of Indigenous community conserved areas by allocating areas for community use, along with the allocation of wider areas for protection. Zoning with the old approach did not pay attention to the around the protected area, but in the new approach, even the core area overlaps with the outside of the Dena protected area. The semi-sensitive areas (with low vulnerability) in the new approach include the buffer area and the rehabilitation and restoration area, but in the old approach, it is the rehabilitation and restoration area. The non-sensitive and developable zone is the transition zone, which mainly includes community uses and has been neglected in the old approach. The most important innovation and added value of this study is expanding the knowledge of the planner and improving his analysis method based on a two-sided approach. At the same time, attention has been paid to the evaluation of the landscape's structural integrity and the perspective of the local communities towards the space.   4- Conclusion The using of the current research method is a kind of ecological-social evaluation of the land's capability for protection, which will support the legitimacy of zoning because, on the one hand, it provides a common language for learning from local Knowledge (complementing the view of the professional planner). On the other hand, by analyzing the landscape's structural integrity, it measures the quality of habitats. Considering the shortcomings and inadequacies of the common method of zoning, as well as the newness of the proposed framework, it is suggested to use these methods to complement each other.  It is necessary to conduct such studies in other districts around the Dena protected area.

The characteristics of drought as one of the environmental events may affect climate changes in the future. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of meteorological drought on vegetation dynamics from 2001 to 2021 in the Golestan province, northern Iran, using remote sensing satellite images. First, using MATLAB software, the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) was calculated in time scales of 3, 6, 9, and 12 months for the Golestan province with a statistical period of 20 years and zoned in ArcGIS software with IDW (Inverse Distance Weighting) Interpolation Method. In the next step, we obtained the maximum value of the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) per month from the MODI3Q1 product of the MODIS spectrometer. Also, using Tersest software, the correlation and line slope of EVI index changes were calculated based on SPEI index changes. The results of correlation analysis showed that in 54.19% of the area of Golestan province, 6-month SPEI changes have the maximum correlation with the EVI index compared to SPEI in other periods. As a result, the highest impact of drought on vegetation in most parts of the study area is related to the 6-month SPEI in May. The results of vegetation sensitivity to meteorological drought showed that in the south of Golestan province, which is covered with dense forest conditions and includes the eastern slopes of Alborz spread in the form of a strip from the west to the east of the province, the vegetation has relatively low sensitivity to the phenomenon of drought due to suitable climatic conditions and the relative humidity of the air. The research results can be used in long-term planning for sustainable natural resources management.   Extended Abstract 1-Introduction Drought is a complex and natural phenomenon that occurs frequently or intermittently in any climate. The global air temperature is constantly changing under the influence of climate change, and the spatio-temporal pattern of rainfall and land use is expected to change significantly in the coming decades. The location of Iran in dry and desert areas has caused the amount of rainfall in some periods to be lower than the long-term annual average. Even though Golestan province is located in the north of Iran and is affected by the humidity of the Caspian Sea, limited research has been done in the field of drought monitoring and management in Golestan province. Satellite data provides the possibility of identifying the damaged vegetation in all types of uses and assessing the severity of the damage. In this research, using remote sensing technology and satellite images, the impact of meteorological drought on the vegetation index has been evaluated in Golestan province from 2001 to 2021.   2-Materials and Methods In this study, the standardized precipitation-evaporation and transpiration index (SPEI) was calculated for 20 years in Golestan province, northern Iran. In different time scales, this index uses the simple relationship of water balance, that is, the difference between precipitation and potential evaporation and transpiration based on Thornthwaite's approach (Thornthwaite, 1948). In areas with non-dense vegetation, the complex combination of soil type, atmospheric effects, and vegetation reduces the possibility of extracting reliable information from satellite data. Therefore, efforts have always been made to provide vegetation indicators that can reduce the adverse effects of factors such as soil. In this research, the slope of the effect line between SPEI in different periods (3, 6, 9, and 12 months) was calculated as the independent variable, and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) as the dependent variable. This calculation was based on the linear regression equations of Chatfield (2016). In general, a negative slope indicates an inverse relationship, a positive slope indicates a direct relationship, and the value of the slope indicates the degree of dependence of the variables. The slope of the effect along with the value of R2, which indicates the accuracy of linear regression, was obtained using the Earth Trend Modeler (ETM) tool set in TerrSet software.   3- Results and Discussion Based on the obtained results, the months of March, April, and May have the most validity for evaluating the vegetation index. In other words, these 3 months have the highest EVI index, and as a result, the data from these 3 months were used to investigate the effect of meteorological drought on vegetation. In the study of Afzali Kardamehle and Behzadi (2023), the greatest impact of drought on vegetation in Golestan province was found in April and September. According to the results of March, for the 12-month SPEI, 29.34% of Golestan province correlated. This distribution includes the north-east of the province, i.e. Marave Tepe city and the border with Turkmenistan, and a narrow strip in the south-west of the province. In the 9-month SPEI, 28.46% of Golestan province had correlation, which includes the east (Kalaleh city), and parts of the west (Agh Ghala city). In the 6-month SPEI, 11.01% of Golestan province correlated. These areas include the center of the province from Agh Ghala to Azadshahr. In the 3-month SPEI, 31.19% of Golestan province had a correlation, which consists of the southwest of the province from Galikesh to Azadshahr. According to the results of April, for the 12-month SPEI, 14.57% of Golestan province correlated. These areas include the north of Agh Ghala city and Marave Tepe city. In the 9-month SPEI, 25.52% of Golestan province correlated. This area covers the northeast of the province, which includes Golestan National Park to Gonbad-e Kavus city. In the 6-month SPEI, 34.01% of Golestan province had correlation, which consists of the entire north of the province. In the 3-month SPEI, 25.89% of Golestan province had a correlation, which is in the south of the province and includes a narrow area (Kordkuy to Galiksh and Gonbad-e Kavus to Agh Ghala counties). According to the results of May, for the 12-month SPEI, a small part of Golestan province (8.34%) had a correlation, which includes Aliabad city. In the 9-month SPEI, 15.58% of Golestan province had a correlation, which consists of the southwest of the province from Gorgan to Kordkuy. In the 6-month SPEI, 54.19% of Golestan province had correlation, which includes the entire east of the province from Marave Tepe and Goli Dag and parts from Agh Ghala and Gorgan to Kordkuy in the west of the province.   4- Conclusion Golestan province is located in several important complications, including the Alborz mountain, the Caspian Sea, and the desert of Turkmenistan, it has non-uniform and diverse climatic conditions, which have led to different vegetation conditions in it, and the results of this study confirm it. Also, anthropogenic factors are effective, which requires more extensive research in this field. The results of this research investigating the effects of meteorological drought on vegetation indicators in Golestan province can be used in the management of vegetation and water resources of the province.

The territory is the structural pillar of the government and the country, and its stability and protection is the essential condition for development and survival. In recent years, Iran has faced many challenges in the biological and environmental resources, especially water resources, the roots of which should be sought in the Islamic Republic's macro strategies and territorial governance approach. The victory of the Islamic revolution caused a profound change in the political thought and territorial governance system in Iran. In the meantime, the discourse and policy of self-sufficiency became a part of the principles of Iran's governance system. The purpose of this research is to investigate and evaluate the policy and strategy of self-sufficiency and its impact on the quality of territorial governance and the state of environmental sustainability in Iran. During the period of the Islamic Revolution, territorial governance was implemented based on the strategy of self-sufficiency and with the aim of economic resilience, reducing vulnerability, and ensuring Iran's food security. The main question of the research is what effect the self-sufficiency strategy has had on territorial governance in Iran and what are its environmental and territorial consequences. This research was carried out by descriptive and analytical methods and document analysis, and the data needed for the research was obtained from Iran's upstream documents and laws, especially the five-year development plans of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The results of the research show that Iran's territorial governance has been influenced by the policy of self-sufficiency as a sustainable strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In such a way the policy of self-sufficiency has become the basis for double pressure and threat to Iran's biological and water resources, and if it continues, it can threaten the social and economic life of many cities and villages in Iran. Extended Abstract 1-Introduction Territorial governance is an essential part of the country's governance system. It emphasizes the preservation and management of territory, the balance of biological resources, and environmental sustainability, and is considered the most important element of the sustainable development process. In recent years, the country of Iran has faced many challenges in the biological resources, especially water resources. The root of this problem should be sought in the Islamic Republic's macro strategies and territorial governance approach. The victory of the Islamic revolution caused a profound change in the political thought and territorial governance system in Iran. In the meantime, the discourse and policy of self-sufficiency became a part of the principles of Iran's governance system. The purpose of this research is to investigate and evaluate the policy and strategy of self-sufficiency and its impact on the quality of territorial governance and the state of environmental sustainability in Iran. During the period of the Islamic Revolution, territorial governance was implemented based on the strategy of self-sufficiency and with the aim of economic resilience, reducing vulnerability, and ensuring Iran's food security. The main question of the research is what effect the self-sufficiency strategy has had on territorial governance in Iran and what are its environmental and territorial consequences.   2-Materials and Methods The spatial scope of the research was the country of Iran and its temporal scope period was the Islamic Republic of Iran. The present research is applied in terms of its nature and was carried out by descriptive method and document analysis. The data required for the research is obtained from the speeches and messages of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the constitution, and the documents and laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, such as the six laws of the five-year development plans of Iran and the general policies of Iran. In the research process, after extracting the contents and themes of the legal articles related to the self-sufficiency policy and its related concepts from the upper documents and laws, they were analyzed and related policies. Then, the spatial effects and environmental threats caused by them in the territory of Iran and in general the quality of territorial governance of Iran were analyzed. 3- Results and Discussion The history of the idea of self-sufficient governance goes back to the first Pahlavi period and was accompanied by ups and downs in the second Pahlavi period. During the rule of the Islamic Republic, the discourse and policy of self-sufficiency became one of the fundamental elements of Iran's strategic and development plans. In Iran's five-year development plans, the policy of self-sufficiency, especially the production of strategic agricultural products, has been emphasized. In this regard, the expansion of agricultural access to water resources and the digging of agricultural wells have been supported by the government. Even the Iranian government declared the drilling of unauthorized wells legal until the beginning of the 2010s. In more than four decades, the implementation of self-sufficiency policies has caused a lot of pressure on the biological foundations, especially the water resources and aquifers of Iran. The drying up of many rivers and wetlands and the indiscriminate drilling of authorized and unauthorized deep and semi-deep wells and as a result the sharp drop in the level of aquifers in the territory of Iran and numerous consequences such as land subsidence have threatened the social and economic life of many areas of Iran. The effort to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of basic agricultural products has directly increased the pressure on Iran's environmental and territorial resources and capacities, especially the country's reserves and water resources. The sharp drop in the water level of the underground aquifers and as a result of the increase in water stress in many plains of the country has intensified in the years of the implementation of the self-sufficiency strategy. 4- Conclusion The results of the research show that Iran's territorial governance has been influenced by the policy of self-sufficiency as a sustainable strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In such a way the policy of self-sufficiency has become the basis for double pressure and threat to Iran's biological and water resources, and if it continues, it can threaten the social and economic life of many cities and villages in Iran.

With the spread of the corona virus to the villages, the rural areas of Iran due to demographic characteristics (larger share of the elderly population) and geographical characteristics (longer distance to access to health care centers), along with the lack of health facilities in response to the epidemic ccrona was more involved in this virus and disrupted the life of rural communities. Rural governance involves the implementation of decisions and policies aimed at rural development, ensuring they align with the interests of rural communities while remaining compatible with national, regional, and local priorities. It is widely recognized as a critical factor in the success of rural communities and their ability to manage rural hazards. One of the most significant challenges that rural residents have faced in recent years has been the outbreak of the infectious disease (COVID-19). This study evaluates the impact of good governance on reducing the vulnerability to COVID-19 in Sistan’s border villages_ Iran. The objective of this research is practical, has a descriptive-analytical nature, and employs a quantitative methodology. Data were collected through both library research and questionnaires. The analysis utilized second-order factor analysis and T-tests, with the cochran formula used to determine the sample size, ultimately selecting 363 households. The resylts indicate that the indices of accountability, consensus, and transparency significantly reduce the vulnerability to COVID-19 in Sistan’s border villages. Specifically, accountability had a beta coefficient of 0.39 at a significance level of 0.001, consensus had a beta coefficient of 0.36, and transparency had a beta coefficient of 0.30, with a significance level of less than 0.05. All three factors directly and significantly contributed to reducing COVID-19 vulnerability in these villages.   Extended Abstract 1-Introduction With the spread of the corona virus to the villages, the rural areas of Iran due to demographic characteristics (larger share of the elderly population) and geographical characteristics (longer distance to access to health care centers), along with the lack of health facilities in response to the epidemic corona virus was more involved in this virus and disrupted the life of rural communities. One of the reasons for the vulnerability of rural communities against this disease is that most villagers lack resources such as clean water, schools, health and treatment centers, and transportation and communication facilities that are easily available in urban areas and the lack of these resources this population is at risk of spreading diseases. In other words, rural areas are much less prepared to deal with the direct and indirect impact of the Covid-19 crisis because the villagers are usually faced with low income, economic opportunities and limited education and lack of health care, and on the other hand, ignorance and lack of efficient crisis management. In the villages, it brought irreparable consequences to these areas. The contagious disease of Covid-19 has left many positive and negative effects on the border villages of Sistan, and according to the economic, social, environmental, infrastructure, geography (climatic sate) conditions are different compared to other villages in Iran. This is because the villages of this region, in addition to Covid-19, face other challenges such as: drought, lack of water, unemployment and increasing migration of villagers, lack of innovation in agriculture, low income of villagers, lack of motivation to live by young people etc are struggling, and the effects of this virus, in addition to leading to economic, socio-cultural, environmental instability etc of villages, intensify the crises raised. Therefore, good rural governance is very important, because by guiding and planning the rural community against such structural-functional crises, they can reduce vulnerability or increase the process of vulnerability with their improper functioning. Therefore, considering the importance of this issue, the purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of good governance on reducing the vulnerability of the spread of corona virus in the border villages of Sistan.   2-Materials and Methods This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature. The method of data collection to answer the research questions was library and questionnaire. The tools used in the survey method were questionnaires and face validity was used to determine the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Also, a wide range of indicators were determined to investigate the effects of good governance on reducing vulnerability to the spread of corona virus in the border villages of Sistan. Factor analysis and T-test were used to analyze the data.   3- Results and Discussion Based on the results, the indicators of responsiveness, consensus and transparency had a significant effect on reducing the vulnerability of the outbreak of Covid-19 in the border villages of Sistan. The greatest effect in this field was for the responsiveness component with a beta coefficient of 0.39 at a significance level of 0.001. After that, the consensus component (P = 0.001, β = 0.36) and the transparency component with a beta coefficient of 0.30 and a significance level of 0.003 had a direct and significant effect on reducing the vulnerability of the spread of Covid-19 in the border villages of Sistan. Also, the components of responsibility (P = 0.121, β = 0.16) and rule of law (P = 0.272, β = 0.11) had no significant effect at the 95% confidence level. Therefore, based on the results, it can be concluded that good governance has positive and tremendous effects on reducing the vulnerability of the spread of Covid-19 in the border villages of Sistan and things like the increasing role of indicators of continuous description of programs, cooperation and interaction, and the alignment of countermeasures. With covid-19, it is more tangible to reduce its vulnerability in the studied villages in order to reach a collective agreement (called ej3) and the villagers' free access to covid information.   4- Conclusion Based on the field studies, when the headquarters of the fight against the corona disease announced that people should follow the health tips and instructions, almost 95% of the people followed them. They have confidence in building the country. Of course, in this regard, the education and promotion of the culture of participation to deal with Covid-19 has been strengthened by government and people's institutions, as well as the councils of villages and village councils have also benefited from the advice of villagers to deal with economic and social harms and the like. Furthermore, the transparency of officials and government institutions regarding their performance in relation to the upcoming corona crises led to building trust between people and officials. Many local residents believed that before the spread of corona virus, their level of trust towards the rural elites and government officials was low, but due to the fairness in the distribution of rural facilities and services in the fight against Covid-19 by the officials, the local residents Their trust in government institutions has increased.

Climate change, widely acknowledged as one of the most pressing global threats in recent decades, has significantly impacted biodiversity and natural ecosystems across the planet. The use of appropriate predictive tools can greatly aid conservation managers in their efforts to protect and preserve biodiversity. In this study, we investigated the effects of climate change on the spread and distribution of Luciobarbus barbulus (Heckel, 1847), a freshwater fish species, by employing an ensemble modeling approach using the Biomod2 package. We utilized six distinct algorithms to analyze current conditions and two future scenarios for the years 2070 and 2090, specifically focusing on the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) includes SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. To build our predictive model, we incorporated a comprehensive dataset comprising eight variables, including climatic, topographic, and anthropogenic factors. The results indicated that the model's predictive performance was robust, with evaluation metrics—specifically the Area Under the Curve (AUC) and True Skill Statistic (TSS)—showing values ranging from very good to excellent (AUC ≥ 0.87). Our analysis revealed that the most significant factors influencing the distribution of Luciobarbus barbulus were Annual Mean Temperature (Bio 1), Annual Precipitation (Bio 12), and Mean Temperature of the Warmest Quarter (Bio 10). Alarmingly, the model forecasts a decrease in the species distribution range under both optimistic and pessimistic scenarios for the years 2070 and 2090. In conclusion, it is imperative for managers and decision-makers in the field of biodiversity conservation to recognize and address the impacts of climate change. Identifying and implementing effective measures to protect this valuable species will be essential for ensuring its survival in a rapidly changing environment.   Extended Abstract 1-Introduction Global warming, predominantly driven by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and industrial processes, is inducing a complex web of environmental changes that extend far beyond mere temperature increases. These changes manifest as altered climate patterns, including more intense and unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, and shifts in seasonal cycles. Such variability disrupts ecosystems, leading to cascading effects on biodiversity. For instance, rising sea levels threaten coastal habitats, while the increased frequency and severity of natural disasters—such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires—further exacerbate the vulnerability of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Freshwater ecosystems are particularly sensitive to these shifts. Fish species, including Luciobarbus barbulus, face multiple challenges: habitat loss due to altered flow regimes and increased water temperatures, shifting migration patterns as they seek suitable spawning grounds, and heightened susceptibility to diseases and parasites that thrive in warmer waters. The intricate relationships within these ecosystems mean that changes affecting one species can have ripple effects throughout the food web. To effectively address the impacts of climate change on these delicate aquatic environments, species distribution modeling (SDM) has emerged as a vital tool for conservationists and researchers. SDM allows for the assessment of species vulnerability by predicting how climate variables influence their distribution. By analyzing historical data alongside current environmental conditions, SDM helps to identify distribution limits and potential shifts in habitats due to climate change. This predictive capability is crucial for developing targeted conservation strategies aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. This study serves as a prime example of the application of SDM in understanding the ecological dynamics of Luciobarbus barbulus within Iran's river systems. By integrating various environmental variables—such as temperature, precipitation, and anthropogenic influences—this research not only sheds light on the current distribution of this fish species but also forecasts its potential future habitats under different climate scenarios. Ultimately, findings from such studies can inform conservation efforts, helping to prioritize areas for protection and management to ensure the survival of vulnerable species in an era of rapid environmental change.   2-Materials and Methods This research focuses on studying the distribution of Luciobarbus barbulus species in Iran, which has a diverse biogeography and unique fauna and flora due to its location at the intersection of three distinct bioregions. The study collected 187 presence points for L. barbulus through various methods and used 144 occurrence points for modeling. Environmental variables such as climate, topography, and human impact were considered, with seven key variables used in the habitat modeling process. Future climate predictions for 2070 and 2090 were also incorporated into the analysis. The study utilized Biomod2 software with various algorithms to predict current and future optimal habitats for the species, evaluating model accuracy through measures like AUC and TSS statistics.   3- Results and Discussion The location of the Iranian plateau in arid and semi-arid regions, coupled with predicted increases in temperature and decreases in precipitation, indicates that Iran will be significantly impacted by climate change in the future. This will likely have profound effects on the country's ecosystems, particularly freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity, including fish species such as L. barbulus. Species may react to climate change through strategies such as adaptation, migration to more suitable environments or extinction. Factors influencing migration include genetic adaptability, dispersal abilities, physiological conditions, and the presence of physical barriers. Human activities like land use changes, pollution, and habitat destruction can hinder species' migration efforts. The study on L. barbulus indicates that its optimal habitat in Iran is primarily located in the western, southwestern, and southern regions. Climate change projections for 2070 and 2090 suggest a significant decrease in suitable habitats for this species. It is observed to fall under the "increase and decrease distribution scenario, with a notable decline in suitable habitats by 2070. Different fish species may exhibit varying responses to climate change, as demonstrated by other recent studies. Management strategies tailored to each species' specific needs will be crucial in mitigating the impacts of climate change on fish populations.   4- Conclusion The L. barbulus, an important species found in the western, southwestern, and southern regions of Iran, faces threats from both climate change impacts and excessive fishing due to its high edible value. These factors combined may lead to a significant decline in the population size of this species in the coming decades. To address these challenges, it is recommended to validate climate models with more data and variables to reduce uncertainties. The reduction in the species' distribution range highlights the need for conservation measures and habitat protection. The findings of this research can guide management strategies to identify key habitats, implement necessary conservation actions, and support the species' adaptation to climate change. This information is valuable for managers in developing effective protection strategies for the species and its habitat

Construction and demolition waste is a special type of solid waste resulting from various construction, and renovation activities of residential buildings and infrastructures, and earth excavation, which is currently considered an emerging global crisis. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the changes in the area covered by construction waste for the last two decades (2002-2022) in the vicinity of Yazd city. To do this research, satellite images were analyzed for six four-year terms including 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. The results showed that C&D wastes has been abandoned all around the city, such as along the Yazd-Mehriz road, Yazd-Teft road, Gowde- Mahmoudi’s area, Shehneh village area, the playa of Yazd area, Kholdebarin area, Kouhestan Park area, and terminal area. Although, in the last decade, sites such as Kholdebarin, Shehneh village, Gowde-Mahmoudi, and the area of Kouhistan Park have been designated as C&D waste landfills and played an essential role in controlling the areas covered by construction debris, however, based on the results, the area under the construction waste has increased between 4 and 7 times in all the studied areas in the last 20 years. The most extensive of which is the site of the Shehneh village, which has increased from about 400,000 m^2  in 2002 to more than 1.2 〖km〗^2 in 2022. The unprincipled disposal of these wastes has not only given an ugly landscape to the city but also increased the risk of hazards such as floods, dust, air pollution, Pollution of water sources, soil pollution, and erosion. Thus, it requires a new management method, including recycling a large amount of them. Knowing the sites of waste disposal, the surface under cover, and the process of environmental changes affected by them is one of the fundamental measures of their management.   Extended Abstract 1-Introduction Construction and demolition (C&D) waste is a special type of solid waste resulting from various construction, renovation, and demolition activities of residential buildings and infrastructures, and earth excavation. The increase in the population, increasing the level of well-being, and the continuous changes in patterns and lifestyles have caused a lot of construction, destruction, reconstruction, and renovation at present. Assessments show that the amount of this kind of solid waste is more than 25% of the total waste produced in the world and if a solution is not thought of today; Shortly, it will create bigger crises. The purpose of this research is to investigate and evaluate the changes in the area occupied by construction waste for the last two decades (2002-2022) in the vicinity of Yazd city, which, can be an opportunity for new solutions and management for this type of emerging waste.   2-Materials and Methods This research has focused on the evaluation and study of the area covered by urban construction waste and their spatial changes in the last two decades. To do this research, satellite images were evaluated and analyzed for Six four-year terms including 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 as well as field observations. For this purpose, all parts and areas around the city of Yazd were investigated using satellite images and field observation. Preliminary observations showed that 10 sites, in the last 20 years, have been placed as C&D waste landfills including along the Yazd-Teft road, the Yazd-Mehriz road, Yazd Playa area, the Yazd University area, the Yazd Terminal area, and Khaldbarin area, Shehneh village, Goad-e-Mahmoudi area, and Kohistan Park area, which the last 4 sites of which are designated as permitted landfill’s site by the municipality. Therefore, the change trends of these ten sites in the last 20 years were evaluated using satellite images.   3- Results and Discussion The results of the evaluation and analysis of satellite images showed that although at the beginning of the studied period, large areas of the surrounding regions of Yazd City were covered by construction waste, in the last 20 years, there has been a significant increase in all sites and surrounding areas of Yazd city. Based on the analysis of the images, the area under the cover of all construction waste, including legal and illegal sites, has increased between 4-7 times. According to the analysis of these images, the largest of them is the area of the village of Shehneh, which has increased from 400,000 square meters in 2002 to more than 1.2 square kilometers in 2022. Of course, the most widespread level of construction waste coverage is still affected by the distance from the city and access to construction landfill sites. For this reason, although in recent years, 4 sites of Khald-e-barin, Shehneh village, Gawd-e-Mahmoudi, and Kohestan Park have been designated by the municipality as legal sites of construction landfill, However, the largest increase in the area covered by construction waste around the city of Yazd has occurred in illegal areas, such as the playa area in the north of Yazd, the Tehran terminal area, along the roads from Yazd to Taft and Mehriz, which they show an increasing trend of more than 5 times in the last 20 years   4- Conclusion The final results showed that a large volume of construction and demolition waste has been produced and abandoned in all adjacent areas of Yazd city in the past few decades, with the extensive development of the urban body as well as the renovation and reconstruction of public and private places in Yazd city. Unprincipled disposal of construction wastes has created many problems for the city of Yazd in terms of the environment, including the need for wide areas to bury them and creating an unsuitable landscape. Therefore, along all communication roads of Yazd City, inappropriate and ugly landscapes have been created due to the accumulation of C & D waste. In addition to the problem of the landscapes, the abandonment of a high volume of C & D waste within some dry rivers (channels) in the surroundings of Yazd City has caused both surface and underground water pollution. Besides, in times of floods, such as the flood of 2021 Yazd City, a large amount of destroyed materials from these construction wastes were washed away and returned to the city and entered the private and public spaces in the form of mud. Also, some of the chemical elements, present in these wastes, have entered the underground water cycle, which poses many risks to human societies, where these waters are currently abundantly used for drinking by the citizens of Yazd. Based on the results, which show the huge expansion of the area under the C & D waste in the vicinity of Yazd City in the last two decades, appropriate ways and methods of managing this type of waste are vital. According to global studies, the most important and basic method is the recycling of them. At least, these wastes can be used in the short term for some construction projects such as road construction, infrastructure, etc.