In order to increase efficiency and prevent the waste of limited capitals of COMBATING DESERTIFICATION projects, there is always no a way that could consider different criteria, strategies and among them, based on a systematic structure and group perspective, offers the optimal solution. The aim of this study was to present a method to rank the optimal strategies to combat DESERTIFICATION in the Yazd-Khezrabad plain based on Multiple Attribute Decision Making model (MADM) using Linear Programming Techniques for Multidimensional Analysis of Preferences (LINMAP) model. In this method, by finding the Euclidean distance of the strategies with the best strategy, the most preferred strategy was selected. In this regard, the problem was transformed into a linear mathematical model, which after running the model in the LINGO software environment, the weight of each strategy, the distance from the ideal strategy and the ideal strategy were estimated. From a LINMAP evaluation model perspective, based on the preference results of five criteria surveyed including Environmental compatibility (C7), environmental and human resource degradation (C16), specialized human resources (C6), scientific and technological tools (C5) and time (C2), the strategies of vegetation regeneration and rehabilitation " (A23), "prevention of inappropriate land uses change" (A18) and "adjustment in groundwater abstraction" (A31) with a distance of 16. 20, 16. 22 and 16. 35 were selected as the most important strategies to combat DESERTIFICATION in the region, respectively. The results of present study enable the desert managers to utilize limited resources and budget dedicated to control DESERTIFICATION process in a correct and efficient manner. Therefore, the results of the mentioned ranking can increase the success rate of COMBATING DESERTIFICATION and land reclamation projects in the study area.

Undoubtedly, land degradation linked to DESERTIFICATION causes a decrease in qualitative and quantitative features of natural resources. This research aimed to assess land DESERTIFICATION by local residents and their role in controlling DESERTIFICATION in Isfahan province, Iran in 2016. The criteria were soil climate, vegetation, erosion, and demography. The indicators of soil texture, stone fragment, organic matter, soil depth, Electrical Conductivity (EC), soil drainage, soil slope, precipitation, evapotranspiration, aridity index, fire risk, erosion protection, drought resistance, plant cover percent, wind erosion, water erosion, land use, population density, grazing intensity, policy, and management. Some parameters include land use, DEM, NDVI, roads, springs, fire history data, stress intensity, tolerance, mean productivity, AUM index, lithology, morphology and relief, wind speed, soil characteristics, plant cover percent, wind erosion features, soil moisture, type and distribution of sand dunes, and land management. The assessment of DESERTIFICATION has been conducted by the Mediterranean DESERTIFICATION and Land Use (MEDALUS) method in ArcGIS10 software. This research was based on the importance of socio-economic issues, establishing a realistic framework for qualitative indicators and indices adapted to Iran’ s situation. Those are population, poverty and economics, people rights and institutional regulations, and sociocultural criteria achieved by an interview with local communities and experts. A single DESERTIFICATION status map was generated based on all the quality maps. Finally, the generated map was compared with local settlements density map. Results showed that 91. 23% of the rangelands (with area 38203 km2) are classified as severe and moderate with low settlements density and 1. 83% of the rangelands (with area 766 km2) are lower in severity with high settlement density. This result illustrated that local settlements and nomadic have a positive role in COMBATING the DESERTIFICATION. They are able to eliminate the DESERTIFICATION to minimum and vice versa. The DESERTIFICATION status and local settlements density maps are essential in management efforts to combat the DESERTIFICATION via local settlement abilities.

Selecting appropriate alternatives considering effective criteria are useful to decision making for arid areas managers. The present study tries to present the main DESERTIFICATION strategies based on quantitative method. Other methods of the assessment of DESERTIFICATION strategies do not study the dependency and the relationship between criteria and alternatives in decision-making level. These methods only rank criteria and alternatives with the hierarchical structure, from up to down, and specify their weights. But complex internal relations between criteria and alternatives and their effects to achieve the ultimate goal requires a network analyzer. So in this study network analysis process (ANP) model were used. For modeling and analysis the data, internal and external dependencies matrix between alternatives and criteria were calculated. Alternatives were weighted using the designed network model and the main alternatives were evaluated and prioritized. The results showed that among 16 criteria and 40 final alternative surveyed, the results showed that the alternative of vegetation cover development and reclamation (A23) with general rating (Di=0.2249) is the most important alternative in COMBATING DESERTIFICATION process in the study area, and alternatives of prevention of unsuitable land use changes (A18) and modification of ground water harvesting (A31) were in the next priority with general rating of 0.2245 and 0.1852, respectively. Therefore, it was suggested that the results and ranking obtained should be considered in controlling and reducing the effects of DESERTIFICATION and rehabilitating degraded lands plans.

The concept of 'DESERTIFICATION' is credited to Aubreville (1949), who used it to describe the change of productive land into desert as a result of man's activity in the tropical forest zone of Africa. Global attention was drawn to the DESERTIFICATION concept when a series of droughts began in the late 1960s in several Sahelian countries. The United Nations Conference on DESERTIFICATION, held in Nairobi in 1977, not only launched the DESERTIFICATION issue into the political arena but also triggered a great deal of scientific interest and controversy. DESERTIFICATION was defined at UNCCD (1994), as 'Land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic and human activities'. DESERTIFICATION should be considerd as a phenomenon which strongly threatens the environment and our economic life.

This study used a survey method to determine the non-economic factors contributing to satisfaction from participation in projects COMBATING DESERTIFICATION in Khuzestan province. The target population for this study consisted of managers of the projects who had a contract with Natural Resources Office of Khuzestan province participating in DESERTIFICATION combat projects. Stratified random sampling method was used to select a sample of 149 managers. Stepwise regression analysis was used to determine the predicators of satisfaction. At the end, based on the findings recommendations for increasing satisfaction are provided.

The optimal strategy selection is an influential factor to enhance the efficiency of land reclamation projects. On the other hand, the process of DESERTIFICATION of the land during environmental degradation is the consequence of the interaction between various factors that make it challenging to select appropriate solutions. Therefore, this study aimed to provide systematic optimization strategies in the form of a group decision-making model in the Yazd-Khezrabad plain. The important strategies were identified using the Delphi model. Then, the alternative initial ranking was formed by Cook and Seiford method framework using the vote taken from the decision makers on strategies. Finally, by estimating the linear distance of each option and including the matrix of the intervals, the last priority of the strategies was obtained from solving the assignment problem. The results indicated that the strategies of "prevent land use inappropriate change" (A18) and "the regeneration of vegetation cover" (A23) with Value=1 and Reduced Cost=0, were identified as the most important COMBATING-DESERTIFICATION strategies in the region, respectively. The results of this study help desert managers to utilize limited facilities and capital dedicated to controlling the DESERTIFICATION process efficiently and effectively.

Reclamation project of Lamerd plain was started in 1995 with seeding, seedlings and protection in an area about 8000 hectares using resistant species to drought and salinity such as Atriplex sp., Prosopis juliflora and Acacia tortilis. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of this project of soil and vegetation characteristics. For this purpose, five profiles were dug within each site. Physio-chemical soil characteristics such as texture EC, pH, lime, organic matter, gypsum, soluble ions (Na, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-) and SAR were measured. In addition, vegetation characteristics such as percentage of canopy cover; condition and trend of vegetation and yield were determined. The results showed that soil have high salinity. Soil salinity was increased specially in the protective area comparing to the first year of the project and expansion of protective area within seedlings area was considerable. One of the important reasons which cause decay in seedlings after project performance (in spite of considerable growth at the first year of project) are: stopped additional irrigation, limitation of plant roots penetration because hard pan caused by lime in 30-60cm depth, shallow water table, water salinity and damaging of plant roots because of severe crust caused in surface layer of soil in the study area.    

Addressing DESERTIFICATION, due to its multi-criteria nature, increasing development, extensive and long-term impacts on natural resources and human populations, is necessary to achieve sustainable development. Therefore, for optimal utilization of facilities and limited funds allocated to this issue, evaluation of current strategies, based on different criteria is essential to avoid wasting national funds, while achieving better results. The current study used Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) to rank DESERTIFICATION strategies in the context of Multi-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) models. First, important and high-priority criteria and strategies were identified within the framework of MADM, using the Delphi method. Then, the final priority of strategies was determined using the DEMATEL method. Based on the obtained results, vegetation cover development and reclamation (A23), change of irrigation patterns and implementation of low water demand methods (A33), and livestock grazing control (A20) were recognized as the most important COMBATING DESERTIFICATION strategies in the region. Therefore, it is suggested to consider the obtained results and ranking in control plans to reduce the effects of DESERTIFICATION and reclamation of destructed lands.

Introduction: DESERTIFICATION is a natural disaster risk event. This phenomenon, along with the extent of degradation, various effects and complexity of the process, deals with qualitative and uncertain indicators and follows the behavior of fuzzy systems. Therefore, in evaluating COMBATING DESERTIFICATION to achieve preferred and optimal strategies, the use of multi-criteria fuzzy decision-making methods seems necessary. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the priority of strategies to combat DESERTIFICATION using hierarchical analytical models in a fuzzy environment in the Yazd-Khezrabad plain during 2019-2020 as a case study. Materials and Method: Fuzzy decision matrix was obtained from fuzzy Delphi method and within the framework of multi-criteria decision-making method. Using Expert Choice software and ELECTRE model, the initial priority of strategies was obtained. In order to estimate the final priority of strategies, TOPSIS method was used and the results were analyzed using GAIA diagram, Graphical Analysis for Interactive Assistance, in Visual PROMETHEE software environment. Results and Discussion: The results show that the strategy of "adjustment in abstraction from groundwater resources" (A31) with a ratio of 56. 59% is the most important strategy in controlling and reducing the effects of DESERTIFICATION and rehabilitation of degraded lands. The strategies of livestock grazing control (A20), irrigation pattern change and implementation of low water requirements (A33), vegetation development and restoration (A23) and prevention of improper conversion and change of land use (A18) with proximity ratios of 15. 76 %, 13. 53%, 11. 34% and 2. 78% were selected as the next priorities, respectively. Analyses performed in Visual PROMETHEE software environment also confirmed the results of the ranking. As the analysis showed, the strategy of "adjustment in abstraction of groundwater resources" (A31) with a pure out ranking progress of Phi = 0. 3635 still remained the most preferred evaluation strategy and other strategies were ranked as before. Conclusion: Overall, it is concluded that in line with the strategy of adjusting the abstraction of groundwater resources (A31), by implementing aquifer projects, improving irrigation methods, land improvement, controlling the growth of industries and aquaculture crops, the process of DESERTIFICATION can be slowed down and destroyed lands can be restored. It is suggested that in the plans to control and reduce the effects of DESERTIFICATION and rehabilitation of degraded lands, the obtained results and rankings should be considered.