Journal of Environmental Studies
Year:2008 | Volume:34 | Issue:47|Papers Count:14

Ecotourism as a means to promote cohabitation between men and society, for the purpose of economic utilization, has come to such a position in our country that ecotourism activities have been considered the fourth sector of human activities, after agriculture industry and services. This is called by economist as invisible export. Since ecotourism resource of every region determines the way it should be utilized.  CharMahal and Bakhtiari Province with all its beautiful intact nature and landscapes can be considered as an Ecotourist pol. It's been met aphorized as the sleeping beauty in Zagross mountain range, the land of upside down, tulips roof top of Iran etc. Attention to the region as a source of life diversity has comparative advantage over other branches of ecotourism and it can be used as a means in developing the region in terms of economic culture and social growth. (Intrinsic development). This study aims at assessing the ecotourism capabilities of CharMahal and Bakhtiari province using SWOT Model. The method for gathering data and information required for the research is mostly documentary, analytical and measurement. Research finding indicate that this province is capable of becoming as a great ecotourism pols, and in this Province necessity of promoting of investment with a focus on ecotourism is touching, for this purpose of paving the way for sustainable development is great.

In recent decades, the city development and city settlement have been tremendous. This has caused unequal physical and spatial expansion. The 21st century is the century of the city and living in city and almost half of the world population live as citizen. A glance at forecasting the data and statistics in 1400 shows an estimation of 130 millions of population and the calculation of present citizen growth makes the need of the areas as much as double. This growth often occurs at cities where land-use is the cause of spoiling optimal land and deterioration of sensitive ecosystem. In our country this case has caused problem. Saghez is one of the northern cities of Kordestan province which is not an exception. The growth and physical development of this city is along the horizontal direction and the extension of buildings in the city is around the central core towards the periphery which has caused the annihilation of agricultural fields and garden. An important problem of this kind of development besides the said problem results in social disorder, unequal distribution of land use, the population growth, growth in immigration, the environmental danger, in proportionate specific land-use in city building principal i.e. Wind direction, land slope, direction scope to mention few. This article considers the present physical development and then the optimization of direction for the physical development of the city with the use of human and natural factors through geographical information system.

The data is concerned to the two sampling periods in Azar 1382 (December, 2003) and Farvardin 1383(April, 2004) is used to analyze the quantity and quality of Sari city aquifer and to prove the intrusion of salt water of sea and fossil water. In according to correlation matrix between the master ions of groundwater in both cases, the most unity respectively is between the Cl and Na at measure of 99.9% and 97.2% in Farvardin respectively. The drawn cluster plots shows the dominance of Ca-Na-HCo3-Cl type in the both cases, as there is a similarity between ions of Na- Cl and Ca-HCO3 more 80% and 90%. By considering to the current research and to be sure assurance of intrusion of salt water or fossil water, both method of Revelle and composite plots were used. The most proportion of Cl ions the basis of Revelle method on the sum of bicarbonate to carbonate refers to the wells number 6 and 7 respectively 0.806 and 0.553, in Azar 0.713 and in Farvardin 0.507, and the lowest quantity in both cases refer to the well No.3, which are called Tangeh Lateh in south of Sari, by 0.806 measure. The drawn composite plots of master ions represent the linear procedure between Na and Cl, which are the rest of ions follow the occasional procedure. It shows that the mixture of salt water (containing Na and Cl ions) and soft water happens with different proportions.

Sediment core samples can provide useful information about aquatic environment. Sedimentation rate, climate changes and heavy metal concentration are among the most important studies that are carried out on sediment cores. In this study, a sediment core of 70cm with aim of metal concentration investigation is collected from central part of the Zarivar lake in the vicinity of the Marivan city in Kurdistan province. After sub sectioning the bulk concentration of metals was obtained using HF- HCl- HNO3. The share of lithogenous and anthropogenic concentration of metals was brought out by chemical partitioning technique. The results of chemical partitioning studies revealed that a considerable part of metals are present in anthropogenic fraction as follows Pb (76.2%)>Mn(53.3%)>Co(50.6%)>Cu(47.4%)>Zn(27.5%)>Ni(18%)>Fe(7.9%) Results of the present investigation showed that statistical studies such as cluster analysis are not sufficient to identify existence of pollution. The results of chemical partitioning studies indicate that Zarivar lake is polluted but cluster analysis illustrates an unpolluted environment. Except for Cu, a significant portion of other metals are present as loosely bonded ions that can be easily released into the overlying waters due to slight changes in physico-chemical characteristics of water column. Presence of small amount of Fe and Mn as sulfides is indicative of prevailing redox conditions over the anoxic ones. Based on the obtained data, the existing condition of Zarivar lake in terms of contamination is not suitable and with increasing of red ox condition, the possibility of increase in contamination is probable.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic compounds made up of two or more fused benzene rings in linear, angular or cluster arrangements. The PAHs are formed by incomplete combustion or high temperature pyrolytic process involving organic matter. Thirty sampling sites were selected to characterize the PAHs concentrations in ambient air in Tehran. Sixteen PAHs were measured simultaneously in particles phase of urban area in Tehran’s atmosphere. In order to understand the distribution of PAHs at Tehran area, 1-year sampling program was undertaken. A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing geographic phenomenon that exist and events that occur on Earth. Several efforts have been made for mapping PAHs related pollution and determining pollution patterns in urban areas using GIS. This study revealed that most concentration of cancerous PAHs compounds was found in district 16 (950.47 ng/m3) and lowest concentration in district 2 (19.59 ng/m3).

Rapid and increasing growth in gasoline consumption and huge natural gas reserves of I.R.Iran - which has positioned the country as the second biggest owner of natural gas reserves - has caused substitution of gasoline with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to be the most important priority in the country's energy sector. Tehran's taxi fleet as a public transportation facility is one of the main gasoline consumers. Replacement of CNG for gasoline in the sector can be an effective motivation to generalize and speed up development of CNG industry and it's usage. Nevertheless doing an economic feasibility study is the main principle of such projects in both national and regional levels. In this article, after reviewing the current and existing infrastructures of natural gas production, transportation and distribution, the last situation of CNG industry's development - in the point of national and international view is studied. After that and following a short discussion about the theoretical principles of economic feasibility study, software model of the economic feasibility study which is designed in Excel format along with its results are analyzed in some different scenarios. Results show that replacement of CNG in Tehran's taxis is feasible in the point of economics view. Meanwhile altering some of the effective parameters of model (including gas consumption after substitution, Capital expenditures, and natural gas and gasoline prices) in possible scenarios and its effects on the project's economic feasibility are evaluated and some suggestions and recommendations - based on the results - are offered.

metals in municipal effluent and transformation of this pollution in food chain and threaten of healthy. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of irrigation with municipal effluent on accumulation of heavy metals (Pb and Zn) in different layers of soil (0-15, 15-30 and 30-60 cm depths) and Olea europaea, s leaves and fruits in Tehran green space. The study area located on southern of Tehran and the study was performed a random-systematic design with three replications with olive species and two irrigation levels with municipal effluent and well water (during 7 years). After determination of topography and geographical properties of control and polluted area, in each treatment, three samples were selected systematic randomly. In each samples, soil (0-15, 15-30 and 30-60 cm depths); leaves and fruits of olive trees were collected for analyses in three replications. Samples were dissolved in acid and the concentrations of Pb and Zn in samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. For comparison of concentrations of heavy metals in layers of soil, leaves and fruits and due to normality of data independent sample t-test was used. Results of this study show that application of municipal effluents increase concentration of heavy metals in different layers of soil (0-15, 15-30 and 30-60 cm depths) and Olea europaea,s leaves but did not show accumulation of Olea europaea,s fruit. Use of municipal effluent in long term may be increase heavy metal in soil and plant tissues.

A new solution aiming at coal biodesulphurization has been developed based on the use of bacteria. The most frequently used species of bacteria for removal of inorganic sulphur compounds are Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Thiobacillus thiooxidans and Thiobacillus acidophilus. In this study the coal sample was decomposed initially and desulphurization experiments was carried out in pure and mixed cultures of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans. Microbial oxidation of pyrite, the main source of inorganic sulphur in coal, is a complex multistage process that the rate of this process is about 1000 times higher than that of the analogous chemical process. The achieved results of using bacteria on coal desulphurization shown when using T. thiooxidans 0.36 mmol sulphuric acid is produced without sulphur and 7.43 mmol with elementary sulphur. Amount of this acid in pure culture of T. ferrooxidans were 0.19 and 1.37 mmol respectively. Content of sulphuric acid produced by mixed cultures of bacteria were 0.92 and 7.86 mmol respectively. The sulphric acid produced by mixed cultures of T.ferrooxidans and T.thiooxidans was higher than the pure cultures of each bacterium. The optimum conditions for the highest desulphurization were shown that solid weight percent less than 3 percent, temperature 30°C to 35°C, pH =2 and the times were sixty days. The best efficiency of removing sulphur was shown on mixed cultures of T. ferrooxidans and T. thiooxidans. Studies of these kinds of microorganisms are of great economical importance and may provide a solution to the ecological problems many countries are facing.

Today, air pollution is one of the main problems of most cities. People spread a large amount of various materials which is inconsistent with natural mechanisms, in the air every day. With consideration of programming, using proper techniques of prediction is one of the effective aims of organization. Due to the importance of air pollution in human health, forecasting of the pollution index can be useful for futures deciding. In the last 10 years, many advances have been made in the statistical modeling of air pollution time-series studies. In this study, time series of pollution standard index (PSI) was obtained from data which were gathered from the Shiraz pollution measuring station of air pollution. PSI was then used for forecasting by regression and non regression methods. ARMA (3,3) model was selected as the best model for forecasting according to Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) criteria. The procedure for finding an adequate ARMA (p.q) model to represent the series can be described as an iterative process involving three key steps: 1) Identification of model to be used, 2) estimation of the parameters of the model, and 3) checking the candidate model by appropriate criteria. The results indicate that this model can predict air pollution with high accuracy.

The studied region is located between 50 o 3´ to 52 o 6´ of the East and 34 o 8´ to 35 o 11´ of the North. This region was distinguished from Tehran province in 1375 and made Ghom province. Lets area is about 11238 square kilometers, i. e. about 0.68 percent of the country area. Ghom area is 116 square kilometers .Nowadays human bioclimatic studies and surveys are the base of urban planning’s, development, settlements, architecture, tourism and etc .This type of research can be used in human settlements on new regions .In this paper human comfort has been evaluated based on bioclimatic indexes and models of Becker,Terjung, stress pressure, Chill-wind and Term hygrometric using Ghom synoptic climatology station data during 1985 – 2005. Therefore, considering climatic characteristics of the studied region, the above mentioned methods may be used as a suitable guideline in exploiting environmental conditions. Considering different methods and indices, as well as the results derived from data analysis and also tables and diagrams taken from synoptic station of the studied area, we can acknowledge that a single index is not enough to get the best result. Therefore in order to reach the desired results, a combination of different indices is necessary. Terjung index, considering the studied region’s characteristics, have appropriate features especially for determining comfort conditions in warm regions. Becker index have approximately the same results. According to the available evaluations. Nervous pressure method and term hygrometric and Chill-wind methods are suitable and rank in the next positions. The results of this study shows that the bioclimatic condition of the region ranges from very hot to very cool throughout the year. Using these models and indicators, necessary evaluations and guidelines, regarding comfort and discomfort of human being in different occasions of the year are presented here which can be suitable for climatic conditions of Ghom. The result of this research may be the base of construction planning in this city.

Water is an important element and plays a vital role in the formation and survival of natural, economical and social systems in dry climates. Thus, there is a significant necessity to present an optimal method for utilization of water resources in these regions. Constructing dams has been a prevalent method for exploitation of water shed resources for a long time which has positive and negative impacts on the environment. Marvast dam in Yazd province-Iran with the aim of supplying agricultural water in Marvast desert and preventing groundwater loss is studied in this paper. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with two methods of Checklist and ICOLD matrix has been used as a tool to study and decrease the above mentioned impacts. In this method, it was attempted to implement the practical and quantitative models such as estimating the rate of Sedimentation, Flood, Stratification, and Eutrophication. Based upon achieved results and mentioned models, it was recommended to use a combined method to utilize the water resources in Marvast desert. In this method that has major elements including surface waters, ground waters and agricultural wells, the plan for exploitation of water resources is dependent on water input to dam reservoir, region’s irrigation calendar, cultivated land of region, and aquifer surface. This method would result in less negative environmental impact in addition to up to 96.1% increase in irrigation output.

Prevalence and diversity of non government organizations is indicative of social and political maturity in any given society. Nowadays, an important concern of NGOs is their strive in how to attract people’s participation in conserving the environment. To promote these organizations participation in the environmental conservation, need arise as to determine the factors influencing their participation, and this must be done through a scientific research. The present study is intended to form the core of this research. The static population is comprised of a hundred members from the board of directors of 20 NGOs (active in environment conservation) from Tehran province of Iran. The reliability of the questionnaire was made known, to an extent of more than 80 percent pretest and with a calculation of Cronbach’s Alpha for the factors of cultural, informational, managerial, social, economical, and motivational. Results indicated that there is not any significant difference between male and female and degree of participation (t=0.772). Correlation coefficient revealed a significant relationship between participation and age, precedence in environmental activities (p=0.01) and level of education (p=0.06).The regression analysis showed that 48.8 percent of participation variance was determined by following variables; level of education, experience in environmental activities, information- related variables, and social- related variables.