Journal of Environmental Studies
Year:2001 | Volume:26 | Issue:26|Papers Count:12

The extensive lowland of Khuzistan in SW.Iran, with halophytes vegetation has been studied floristically. Brief information on the climate lithology and habitat of the area are presented. The hot desert of lowland of the Persian Gulf area with complex floristic situation is described. Their phytogeographical and taxonomic relationships are discussed in detail and attempts are made to relate the distributional patterns to certain ecological factors. 22.6% of species are Irano – Turanian & Saharo – Sindian; 20% Sah – Sin & Ir.-Tur. & Mediterranean; 13.6% cosmopolitan; 11.8% Saharo – Sindian; 7.9% Pluriregional; 6.8% Paleotropic; 5% Ir. Tur. & Medi.; 5% Sah – Sin. & Medi.; 3-8% Omni – Sindian and 3.5% Irano – Turanian. Further aspects pointed out are the representation of life form of families and genera and their enviroment.  

During a five years survey in Markazi province, 136 species related to 42 bird’s family have been identified, that include 27% of the bird’s species and 58% of the birds families of Iran. (Iranian Birds). 36% of birds were endemic and 64% were megrant. Cosidering the species variety in Markazi province, Sylvidae family is number one. The population of corvidae family are more than other families. The variety and frequency of the species in spring and fall were more than other seasons. Mostly, endemic birds can be found in Markazi province in winter and wintering migratory are rarely found, because of the cold weather. A species of importance with low population (Grus grus) is seen around Mighan wetland in fall with population of 2-4 thousands. The Alectoris chukar and Ammoperdix grisogularis are two important species of endemic birds of this province that migrate to hilside and deserts in the winter and to mountain region in the summer. During the survey a number of birds captured by Misnet released, after they have been ringed.

In this study, land use planning for six hydrological units (296690 ha) of Arasbaran forest catchments (NW of Iran in Azarbaijan) has been conducted. The main objectives of the plan were to promote sustainable use, to increase living conditions, and enhance environmental conservation in the region. First, ecological and socio – economic resources were surveyed and mapped (scale 1:50000). Then data analysis and integration with system analysis approach were performed. As a result, 3556 micro – ecosystems were mapped. Ecological capability of mapping unit (MU) was evaluated for: agriculture, range management, forestry, ecotourism and conservation with the aid of specified ecological models. Finally with coordination of socio – economic data and ecological capability of MU, priority of land uses with qualitative – analogous method was established. At the end, map of land use planning for six hydrological units was depicted for management purposes. The results show that %5.38 of allocated land use is suitable for irrigation farming, %1.32 for dry farming, %17.43 for range management, %15.17 for protected forestry, %2.13 for forest plantation, %28.47 for extensive ecotourism, %0.01 for intensive  ecotourism and finally %30.09 for conservation.

This research focuses on the role of the environmental non – governmental organizations in Iran and also the evaluation of their performance in achieving public participation to protect environment. Findings of this research reveal that so far these organizations have lacked the ability to prepare the context for people involvement in environmental conservation, which is due to several major constraints. Political, legal, and judiciary factors have been the major obstacles against the establishment and smooth activities of these organizations. A few organizations which have overcome the difficulties and began their activities, have not been able to make significant impact on protecting the environment. Lack of experience, both in organization and people, were another factor in limiting the success of these organizations in Iran. To be successful, the environmental non – governmental organizations in Iran, require proper political, legal, social and economic settings, as well as the knowledge and skill of running these kind of organizations.

This study has been conducted for the first time in Iran, by contingent valuation method (CVM) and using Extended Linear Expenditure System (ELES) to estimate nonmarket services of Gerebygan manmade forest. According to this study the Existance value of three principal nonmarket services including climat regulation, Erosion control and habitat / refugia estimated respectively at 3225093493 0 Rial, ($ 3.9 M) 29627233260 Rial ($ 3.5 M), and 25933208830 Rial ($ 3M).  

Considering the water scarcity in Iran and the importance of environmental protection, it is approperiate to investigate the environmental management of Siah – Rud river. It is a small river being utilized as discharge channel by factories located in the vicinity of the river. The physico – chemical characteristics of river water at 10 different sampling locations along with coefficient of aeration (K1, Kd), and self purification of the river were determined. Using a linear computer programme, an optimization – model for the minimum treatment efficiency at each pollutant source, along with dissolved oxygen and BOD, in the course of river was developed.

Plants polluted with Pb produced by automobiles along the roads and highways have extensively been reported all over the world. It is the most important source of pollution in the environment. This research was carried out to determine the polluting degree of plants along the highways such as: Rasht – Anzaly, Kelachay – Ramsar, Tehran – karaj, and Isfahan – Tehran. At each arbitiray point, a transect 100 meters long perpendicular to the highway was selected for sampling. Along each transect, plants were sampled at 15 cm above the ground, in different distances from the highway. Samples were transported to the laboratory and analyzed by a standard method. The average concentration of total Pb determined in Anzali, Ramsar, Karaj and Delijan (east and west of the road) areas respectively were 114.5, 58.3, 260.2, 75.1 and 80.2 microgram per gram dry plant weight. Total Pb content in plants along the roads were high and exponentially decreasing with distance from the roadside. Pb concentration  in plants were higher that threshold of Standard, so the risk of entraing of this poisonous element in nutrition system along the roads is very considerable. The plants were polluted from medium degree up to a very high degree. The rate of pollution in plant samples is very high in Karaj area, high in Anzali area, and medium in Ramsar and Delijan areas. Plant pollution was directly related to the traffic volume in road.

In order to prevent contamination of heavy metals accumlation in soil, plant, and ground water, several methods of prevention are studied, and tested worldwide. One of the methods which has not been studied and applied in Iran is stabilization of heavy metals in soil by using clay minerals. Clay minerals due to hydration properties can adsorb organic and inorganic substances. Two clay minerals were used in this research: Bentonite with chemical structure of 2 to 1 (Two layers of silica and one layer of Aluminum) with CEC equal to 85 meq /100 grams and Kaoline with chemical structure of one tone (one layer silica and one layer Aluminum) and CEC= 3 meq/100 grams of soil. The physical and chemical properties of these two kinds of clays were different. Stabilization of heavy metals with different percentages of these two clays (7%, 15%, 22%) with different pH (4, 7, 8, 11. 5) were studied. The results indicate that with increasing of stabilizing agent at pH = 7.8 and greater, stabilization of heavy metals increased significantly. The results also indicate the stabilization of heavy metals decreased rapidly at pH 4 and lower. The results of this study agree with the work of pervious researchers.

Nowadays programming and designing of green space of urban area, without considering the criteria for optimum standards of green areas is impossible. In this research, It is tried to determine, the per capita standard rate of green space in different regions of Gorgan city. The applied methodology is an integration of landscape Ecology. The result shows that 81 percent of regions have met the standard.

Investigating the experiences of urban development in Iran shows several issues especially in relation to degradation of the quality of living environment. Rapid growth of population and immigrations, social and economic issues, lack of dwellings and scarcity of suitable land for urban developments and other pressures on the urban structure from one hand, and ambiguity of urban development policies in local and larger scales on the other have brought temporary and local solutions. One of such solutions includes inner urban growth by constructing high rise buildings. It is changing the structure of big Iranian cities without considering the contextual potentials for adding such structures to the local structure and looking at their function in urban scale. The aim of this research has been to investigate those impacts of tall buildings that are important in their influence on the surrounding environment. Elahieh, a residential district in the north of Tehran has been chose as the case study. The impacts of tall building in the surrounding environment, creation of a microclimate, increase in environmental pollution, and visual impacts. General conclusions show that no attention has been paid to urban and environmental considerations in building high rises in this district. In order to build tall structures with the least environmental impact, a comprehensive design process based on the strategies of planning and design is needed. By being process, designers can reinforce and improve the quality of environment.  

Man’s interference with environment has generally followed two main and distinct attitudes, which has led to creation of different urban landscapes. The first attitude is called “man compatible with the nature” which has generally shaped landscapes till industrial age. The second is “man dominant over the nature” affecting landscapes since industrial age. After revealing of environmental crises – which are the impacts of the latter – a new way of thinking is being formed, which includes some aspects of both past attitudes. The main idea of this new way is to go along with the nature’s powers instead of confronting them and to respect the soul and laws of the nature. This way of thinking insists on the creation of small sizes of settlements. In this new approach in addition to the acceptance of the role of science, emphasis has been put on the ecological characteristics, individual consciousness, art and creativity in landscape design.