Seyed Hamidreza Sadeghi; Roghayeh Alipour; Hasan Fereydoni; Fatemeh Zahra Enayati; Alireza Pakravan; Reza Yaghoti; Mitra Moradnezhad; Fatemeh Esmailzadeh Ashini; Fatemeh Abdolbaghi; Sahar Mousavian; Reza Chamani; Marjan Bahlekeh; Hamed Beigi
Abstract
To prevent further land degradation, effective policies and strategies are imperative. This study reviews detailed executive studies of the Daftabad Watershed in South Khorasan Province, Iran, to identify its problems. Field visits and a fishbone diagram were used to create a list of regional problems ...
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To prevent further land degradation, effective policies and strategies are imperative. This study reviews detailed executive studies of the Daftabad Watershed in South Khorasan Province, Iran, to identify its problems. Field visits and a fishbone diagram were used to create a list of regional problems and challenges. The study evaluated six pillars of comprehensive watershed management, viz., legal, policy, economic, social, cultural, and knowledge. The assessment shows that the current approaches to managing the Daftabad Watershed face significant challenges, including inappropriate management patterns, climate change, lack of local community participation, investment deficiencies, and socio-economic issues. These factors have left the watershed highly vulnerable. Additionally, the lack of consideration for the diverse needs of the population, particularly women, has led to inadequate population management solutions. Utilizing the economic capabilities of the Daftabad Watershed, such as agriculture and barberry cultivation, to produce and market products and expand ecotourism, can reduce poverty and strengthen local economies. Comprehensive and systematic management can improve the current trend of watersheds, reduce the waste of water and soil resources, curb migration to larger cities, and mitigate environmental problems. Active participation of all stakeholders—government, private sector, NGOs, and local communities—is crucial in the design and implementation of this program. Emphasizing community participation, effective policy-making, investment in infrastructure, support for vulnerable groups, and integrating Indigenous and scientific knowledge can significantly contribute to its success.This study underscores the need for a comprehensive and participatory approach, providing solutions for improving Daftabad Watershed management. The results can serve as a model for managers and policymakers, emphasizing holistic and inclusive strategies for sustainable development and resilience. It is recommended that managers and planners prioritize evaluating, monitoring, and measuring the effects of implemented projects to preserve and restore healthy watersheds and prevent migration and associated problems in neighboring cities.
Reza Chamani; Hengameh Shekohideh; Khatereh Zare; Reza Zarei; Hamed Amini; Leila Hemati; Vahid Moosavi; Abdulvahed Khaledi Darvishan
Abstract
Introduction
Nowadays, the severe degradation of the environment and the reduction of the performance of watersheds are very important in order to respond to the various demands of human societies. In the meantime, in order to deal with these threats, the use of the approach of integrated management ...
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Introduction
Nowadays, the severe degradation of the environment and the reduction of the performance of watersheds are very important in order to respond to the various demands of human societies. In the meantime, in order to deal with these threats, the use of the approach of integrated management of watersheds as an infrastructure and acceptable management principles in the world community and based on conceptual and mental models has a special emphasis. The SWOT analysis has structural features and suitable flexibility that has a wide range of capabilities in managing different ecosystems. In the SWOT analytical model, strategies are formulated to maximize strengths and opportunities and minimize weaknesses and threats. Therefore, in this research, an attempt was made to evaluate the impact of various anthropogenic and natural factors on the status of Mikhsaz Watershed with the SWOT approach.
Materials and methods
The Mikhsaz Watershed with an area of 11191.1 hectares is located in the west of Mazandaran Province and in Nowshahr City, Kajur district and Zanus Rostaq village. In terms of elevation changes, the lowest height is 1374.7 meters above sea level located at the outlet of the watershed and the highest is 3689 meters located in the southern. The average amount of annual precipitation in the Mikhsaz Watershed is 427.8 mm and the average annual temperature is 10.53 degrees celsius. SWOT analysis is one of the most efficient methods of strategic management which can be used for beneficial results in different study watersheds, analysis of local capacities and generally in order to achieve the goals of integrated development planning studies in economic, social, cultural and physical. The first step in strategic management is the establishment of the SWOT matrix. The SWOT matrix, considering the conditions, internal and external factors governing in a system that provides a good basis for developing approaches. In order to present the strategy in the framework of this approach, four types of strategies have been used, including competitive-offensive, diversity, revision and defensive. In order to provide any type of strategy, two or more components of the existing factors that cover each other or are related were considered. Then, in direction of these combined factors, the best strategies for the study area were determined and finally the factors were ranked. In the execution of SWAT strategies, by using the internal strengths, it is possible to make maximum benefit of external opportunities.
Results and discussion
Two factors of income reliance on different sectors (livestock-agriculture-services) and climatic diversity (rainfall and temperature) in the watershed with a weighted score of 0.23 are usually the most important among the strengths. In the weaknesses, the factor of inadequacy of property compared to family members has been identified as the most important weakness of the watershed with a weighted score of 0.63. Two factors of the possibility of reviving handicrafts and nature suitability for tourism with a common score of 0.3, were the most important opportunities in the watershed. In this watershed, the possibility of spring floods caused by melting snow with a score of 0.2 and early and late cold temperatures with a score of 0.18 are among the most important threats. Therefore, internal factors with a score of 3.54 have a greater effect on improving the situation of Mekhsaz Watershed than external factors with a score of 2.89.
Conclusion
In this research, the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on the management of Mekhsaz Watershed in Mazandaran Province was evaluated and measured using the SWOT model. The results showed that in the Mekhsaz Watershed, income reliance on different sectors and climatic diversity are the most important strengths and lack of property compared to the family members is the most important weakness. The prioritization of the region's strategies also indicates that the strategy of reducing the destruction of resources and modification of the livelihood pattern are ranked first and second with the scores of 2.21 and 2.19, respectively.
