Journal of Environmental Studies
Year:2004 | Volume:30 | Issue:35|Papers Count:13

Three major habitats in the Golestan National Park were selected to evaluate the Urial Sheep (Ovis ammon arkal) by filed observation during 3 critical seasons (breeding, mating and wintering seasons) in 1997.The parameters investigated were: aspect, slope, vegetation, weather condition, water accessibility, age composition, sex ratio, percentage of breeding, number in group. The ranking and weighting method were used to asses and compare 3 habitat types. It was found that solegerd ranked first among 3 selected habitat types. Almeh and Lohondor ranked second and third.

Marine and coastal protected areas have an important role in conservation programs of any country. Although most have been established relatively recently when compared with protected areas on land, there is considerable expertise on their identification, setting up and management. Therefore, some techniques have been adapted from that use on land.The selection of sites for conservation management is only one of many elements in the building of a network of protected areas. Frequently the first areas to be selected for protection are often so obvious that there is no need to put forward the criteria except in selecting an appropriate management category. However, the identification and selection of other candidate areas requires the setting up of criteria.In this study for each site under consideration, the different criteria (23 criteria) were quantified or scored (e.g. on a scale of 0 to 5 for lowest to highest value). The scores summed for each site and compared, and priority areas identified based on the highest scores. We assessed these criteria according to regular protected areas in southern part of Caspian Sea in Iran.Results indicate Miankaleh Wild Life Refuge is most important site in Southern part of Caspian Sea. Furthermore, Gorgan Bay and Gomishan wetland in southeast part of Caspian Sea would score highly on a combined list of ecological, social and economic criteria. Thereby Boojagh Marine-coastal Park in Sefid-rood river mouth (middle of southern part of Caspian Sea) and Lavandevil Wild Life Refuge (southwest part of Caspian Sea) have the lowest score and need more management efforts.

Following five years of efforts made by George H. Bissell and Col. Drake for the discovery of oil, on 27 Aug. 1859, oil was found in the first well dug by human hand in America. The value of oil was recognized quickly and efforts in this regard were initiated in other parts of the world too. These efforts in Iran came to fruition through the oil discovery in Masjed-i-Soleiman in 1908. The history of this development is very interesting and memorable since then oil industry developed quickly in Iran and the modem city of Masjed-i-Soleiman was established as a center of oil activities in Iran. Many industrial establishments were created to serve oil industry. Through passage of time and discovery of oil in other parts of Iran as well as reduction of oil reserves in Masjed-i-Soleiman, this legendary city gradually lost its momentum during 1970s. It is now a poor city lacking required facilities and has left a great history behind it. The abandoned establishments left from the period of oil activities constitute a major part of this history. In this research project the oil history and the industrial establishments left in Masjed-i-Soleiman are put forward as potentials to attract tourists and a project has been designed to take advantage of its tourism attractions. This project has been prepared within the framework of tourism development in the southwest regions of Iran, in which the provinces in the southwest of Iran are divided on the basis of existing tourism attractions. Each region has a tourism center and several tourism attractions. Oil parkmuseum of Masjed-i-Soleiman also acts as a center of tourism activities in the realm of Masjed-i-Soleiman tourism.

This paper explores eco-archaeological approaches to regional scale research in dynamic landscapes. Landscape elements, a spatial concept from landscape ecology, and the archaeological notion of place are integrated with land use patterns of the evolution of landscape. This paper also applies the integrity concept to the assessment of cultural landscape. As a case study, land use dynamics of a cultural landscape in Northwestern Iran were measured and ANOV A analyses were used to project observed changes. Comparisons indicated that the patterns of landscapes would change to another states under the circumstances of land use patterns change. This study found that the changes in land use patterns diminish the existing integrity of natural and cultural landscapes.

Water Turbidity is important from three aspects, desirability, filterability and disinfection. Also because of the relationship between turbidity and some microbial parameters, turbidity can be used as indirect indicator to estimate removing efficiency and rate of presence of these parameters.In this study a statistical relation between turbidity of filtered water and removing logarithm of Giardia Cysts was also found. This relation was shown by a polominial (power law) model. Based on the model results, to achieve 99.9 percent efficiency for Giardia Cysts removing, turbidity of filtered water must be less than 0.5 N.T.U. where as on the base of national standards this value is less than one N.T. U and must be reviewed.

Mamloo Dam is supposed to be constructed on downstream of Jajrood River for supplying Varamin plain(s) consuming water, controlling flood and producing energy.In order to predict water quality and define the minimum flow on the downstream of Jajrood River, studies on water quality criteria and standards river self purification were done to assess parameters of dissolved oxygen, BOD5 and temperature.Results indicate that prior or after dam construction, water quality changes are not sensible before discharging of Parchin complex effluent to the river. But after discharge even with considering complete treatment of Parchin effluent to standard level of surface water, river water quality changes severely.The main reason for river water quality changes is high Parchin effluent flow comparing with river water flow at point of discharge. Mamloo dam construction will increase this effect significantly.We conclude that reaching discharge effluent standard is not enough for water quality control without considering pollution load.It also suggests that, promulgation and enforcement of surface water discharge standard are necessary.

Landfill sites could be associated with the environmental impacts of surface and groundwater pollution due to landfill leachate percolation to the hydrological system. Such issues occur due to the unsuitable selection of geological areas as the waste disposal site, characterized without any effective capping and bottom liners.The goal of this research is the investigation of hydro-chemical quality of the groundwater in the vicinity of Gorgan MSW landfill. The result of geochemical study of the groundwater samples in the landfill area indicates that prominent cations and anions concentrations are more than Drinking Water Standards. Although in the south of Gorgan disposal site, the average total concentration of Na+,K+, Mg2+, Cl-, SO42-, PO43-, N03-, and NH3- are measured 27.80, 2.80, 38.82, 90.20, 141.20, 0.18, 20.37, and 0.02 mg/l respectively in the groundwater wells. But in the nearby Gorgan MSW groundwater wells, the average total concentration of these contaminants are reported 218.8, 7.20, 71.42, 183.30, 200.30, 0.50, 61.90 and 0.17 mg/l respectively. Range of turbidity, E. C., and T.D.S. amounts, along with concentration of Na+, Cl-, SO42- and NO-3 contaminants in the groundwater wells of adjacent of Gorgan MSW is more than groundwater wells in the south of Gorgan disposal site. According to strongly and positive correlation of EC with Na+, K+, Cl-, S02-4 and TDS of the groundwater, S- SW to NNE flowing of groundwater, and unsanitary disposal of Gorgan MSW without any effective liner, which lies on the loess deposits (76% slits and 23.5% clays as kaeolinite, illite, and semectite) it could be concluded that the infiltration of landfill leachates have caused the contamination of the ground water.Geohydrochemical facies of groundwater types are detennined as Ca2+ Na+HCO-3Cl- and Na+HCO-3. Usage of the groundwater resources in the vicinity of landfills area by the residential municipal and rural people, which has a potential impact on public health, requires controlling of the leachate seepage and designing lining systems for preventing contamination of groundwater.

In most Bio-environmental standards, the allowable limit of heavy metals release in environment was determined for all compounds of a given element. However toxic effects and pollution potential of these elements is relatively dependent upon their kind and chemical composition. In this research, the effect of CdCl2 and Cd (N03)2 on the growth of tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum) was separately evaluated, as well as, the amount of uptake and accumulation of Cd by root and shoot parts of this plant in the presence of these salts.The results showed that deleterious effect of Cd (N03h on the growth of plants was significantly greater than CdCl2. Also, the uptake and accumulation of this element by plant organs in media that contain Cd (NO3)2 was greater than in media containing CdCl2. It is concluded that in surveying the pollution effects of heavy metals, not only their quantity but also the kind and chemical composition must be considered. Because plants adaptation to some salts like nitrate cause easy entry of these compounds to biological circles and increases pollution.

This research was carried out with the aim of justifying the recycling of solid wastes in Lahijan for the first time in 1380 (2001). To do this along with physical analysis of household wastes the necessary information about the daily amount of waste collection, transportation, and final disposal charges were collected.Results indicated that Lahijan with a population of 57298, produces wastes up to 70 tonnes per day including: paper and cardboard7%, plastic 6.6%, glass 1.2% and other disintegrating matter 83.85. Their collection and landfill charges for each year was estimated at 3115881265 Rials(€ 3.11 thousands). An appropriate recycling plan can obtain profits summing up 392046515.2 Rials for paper and cardboard, 715932815.2 Rials for plastic, 6146311 Rials for metal, 6146311 Rials for glass, and 688495.4 Rials for cult. The total amount of saving could be 127160447.8 Rials (€ 12 thousands).Camparing the collection, transportation and landfill costs, as well as, environmental impact, the recycling of soild waste has a complete economic feasibility.

Percent organic carbon and texture composition (percent clay, sand and silt) of 257 specimens taken from equal depth from 30 to 300 centimeters on six transects in Hashillan wetland in north east Kermanshah were determined. On the basis of relationship between percent organic carbon and particle size it was determined that 19% of the specimens are peat, 6% mucky peat, 7% muck, 13% mucky mineral soil, 16% heavy mineral soil and 37% light mineral soil. Distribution of specimens with different organic content indicates that a stratum of peat exist in Hashillan wetland. The mineral soils in this wetland belong to some 407 small hummocks which are distributed on the surface of the wetland. These hummocks which are circular, ovoid, tear or horseshoe shape are surrounded by a web of pools and strings. The presence of peat in various depths and hummocks on the surface indicate that Hashillan wetland has been evolved from a blanket mire into a patterned mire under the influence of environmental factors.