Alireza Rabet; Ghobad Rostamizad; Amin Salehpour Jam
Abstract
Introduction
One of the important problems in the process of implementing and maintaining watershed projects and natural resources is the lack of effective participation and cooperation of watershed residents. Based on this, it is necessary and inevitable to pay attention to the inhibiting factors and ...
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Introduction
One of the important problems in the process of implementing and maintaining watershed projects and natural resources is the lack of effective participation and cooperation of watershed residents. Based on this, it is necessary and inevitable to pay attention to the inhibiting factors and also to identify ways to strengthen the participation of local communities in the process of implementing watershed and natural resources projects. This research, was done with the aim of knowing the socio-economic characteristics of local communities, identifying indicators that are effective in reducing obstacles and increasing people's participation in the implementation of natural resources and watershed projects, knowing the expectations and needs of the local community and finally, scientific and technical solutions have been presented to increase the level of public participation in Arpachai pilot area of Zanjan Province .
Materials and methods
In this study, four influential indices, including social-cultural, economic, natural, and managerial, were identified and categorized with 40 sub-indices. Necessary information was collected through surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and multiple sessions with community members and local experts. The sample size was determined using the Cochran formula, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. Also, to check the validity of the questionnaire from Cronbach's alpha, factor analysis was used in order to reduce and categorize the variables affecting people's non-participation in watershed management projects.
Result and discussion
The results showed that six factors explain 64.4% of the variance of the dependent variable and the education and information variable at the local level was recognized as the most effective factor that explained 29.97% of the variance of the dependent variable. Following that, the factors of improving the income and livelihood of villagers with 19.24%, diversity of economic activities and improving performance with 18.93%, strengthening the local economy with 13.92%, management of watershed projects with 11.34% and natural resources management with 4.3% were placed in the second to sixth priority, respectively.
Conclusion
In general, it can be said that the lack of information and awareness of the local community about the positive economic, social, natural and technical aspects and benefits resulting from the implementation of natural resources and watershed management projects in the area of their living and production is one of the important obstacles in the lack of participation and failure to achieve the anticipated goals in the implementation of watershed and natural resources projects in the study area. Based on this, attention and emphasis on the issue of building trust and increasing the level of social trust in the General Administration of Natural Resources and Watershed Management plays a significant role in the process of implementation and success of projects.
Mohammad Jafar Soltani; Baharak Motamedvaziri; aliakbar noroozi; Hassan Ahmadi; Jamal Mosaffaei
Abstract
Extended abstractIntroductionDust event is one of the natural events that occur widely in the world, especially in dry areas. One of the main and effective factors in the occurrence of this phenomenon is the geographical location and climatic conditions of the regions affected by this phenomenon. The ...
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Extended abstractIntroductionDust event is one of the natural events that occur widely in the world, especially in dry areas. One of the main and effective factors in the occurrence of this phenomenon is the geographical location and climatic conditions of the regions affected by this phenomenon. The purpose of this research is to analyze the cause-and-effect relationships of dust events in Hendijan region with the approach of the Driver-Pressure-Situation-Effect-Response (DPSIR) framework. Materials and methodsThe DPSIR process is an analysis based on the "cause-disability" relationship of factors for policy-making and management planning. The DPSIR framework is a systems thinking framework that assumes cause-and-effect relationships between environmental and socio-economic systems. This conceptual framework uses a cycle of causes and results for the proper integration of basic economic, social and environmental data and information, specifies the relationship between environmental processes and human factors, and also leads to an understanding of the relationship between policy levels and environmental studies. The trend of each component of DPSIR was also evaluated by applying quantitative criteria for the time period of 2007-2019. Results and discussionThe results of the research showed that the total index of all DPSIR components has an upward trend for the studied period. The slope of the trend related to D, P, S, I and R components was equal to 0.06, 0.03, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.02, respectively. Although some responses were made to reduce the influence of others. The components of DPSIR have been adopted to improve the dust situation, but the research results and the process of changes showed that they were not sufficient and integrated. In this research, a variety of answers related to the components of the driving force, pressure, situation, and effects were identified. The results showed that dust concentration and dusty days in the region increased during the study period and more attention was paid to reactive responses and less focus on preventive responses. Also, paying attention to the response of increasing the efficiency of irrigation due to the high correlation between the state of dust concentration and pressure factors such as the amount of rainfall, soil moisture, and exploitation of water resources in the research area, special attention to the development of water extraction systems as one of the most important responses. Management issues due to the existence of negative and high correlation with the dust situation during the years of research, adequate and sustainable supply of water resources by reducing and minimizing the diversion dams downstream of the Kowsar and Ask dams due to the increase in dust concentration with the increase of flood diversion operations and construction Reservoir and diversion dams since 2009, Considering the water rights of wetlands in the region with the aim of preventing wetlands from drying up and creating a dust center, especially in the west of Hendijan city, and carefully choosing the appropriate plant species, as well as carrying out desertification operations (planting saplings, mulching, building windbreaks). With the ecological conditions of the region, due to the negative correlation between the desertification operation and the reduction of dust concentration since 2014, it can help to improve the dust situation in the research area. ConclusionIn this regard, it is recommended to respond to driving forces (D) and pressures (P) so that while improving the conditions and adverse effects caused by it, the drivers and pressures that create the current situation can also be controlled. Based on this, the incomplete implementation of the answers is another reason for not achieving management goals and making the situation and the number of dusty days more unfavorable. It is also suggested to implement the integrated watershed management program in Hendijan city through the development of a joint water, agriculture, and natural resources program upstream of the watershed in order to clarify the effective measures of the water production, distribution, and consumption chain in the upstream lands.
Reza Chamani; Seyed Hamidreza Sadeghi; Mehdi Vafakhah; Maryam Naghdi
Abstract
Drought is one of the natural disasters related to climate and one of the most important threats to human survival leading to adverse effects on social, economic, and environmental sustainability. In this study, it has been tried to evaluate the changes in reliability, resilience, and vulnerability of ...
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Drought is one of the natural disasters related to climate and one of the most important threats to human survival leading to adverse effects on social, economic, and environmental sustainability. In this study, it has been tried to evaluate the changes in reliability, resilience, and vulnerability of the Chalous Watershed under the influence of drought in the period of 1982-2017. In this vein, rainfall data of nine stations were interpolated using invers distance squared method to the whole watershed. The SPI drought index was then determined through determining the mean and standard deviation of the data. To calculate Rel, Res and Vul indices, the mean value of SPI Index was used. By calculating the geometric mean value of these indicators, the general health status of the watershed was determined and quantified. The results showed that the SPI Index in this period varied between -1.43 and 2.25. Drought index had a similar pattern to that of rainfall with an increasing trend at the end of the period. The watershed health assessment also showed that the indicators of reliability, resilience, and vulnerability were found 0.5, from 0.23 to 0.62 and from 0.06 to 1, respectively. The geometric mean of these indices was also ranged between 0.19 and 0.58. The overall health condition of the Chalous Watershed based on the dynamics of drought index with a mean index of 0.45 was classified as “moderate”. The findings of the current research will play an important role in explaining the methods of adaptive management of the watershed.
Mohammad Rasoul Rajabi; Ali Nasiri Khiavi; Mahin Kalehhouei; Sonia Mehri; Azam Mumzaei; Khadijeh Haji; Abdulvahed Khaledi Darvishan
Abstract
The present research aimed at presenting a new SWOT strategy for integrated watershed management of Asiabrood in Mazandaran Province. At first, the SWOT matrix and the tables identifying the strategic indicators of internal and external factors were formed and then internal and external evaluation matrices ...
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The present research aimed at presenting a new SWOT strategy for integrated watershed management of Asiabrood in Mazandaran Province. At first, the SWOT matrix and the tables identifying the strategic indicators of internal and external factors were formed and then internal and external evaluation matrices were analyzed. A new strategy used in the discussion of the weighting of SWOT strategies was based on the fact that the final value of each strategy was multiplied by the number of effective strengths and opportunities and the final results were analyzed based on these priorities. Based on analysis of strengths and weaknesses, nine strengths and eight weaknesses were identified. The suitable water quantity and quality with a weight of 0.444, low air temperature with a weight of 0.395, mineral water utilization with a weight of 0.288 and economic poverty with a weight of 0.493, respectively, were the most important strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. According to the internal-external factors evaluation matrix in the SWOT model, the strategy of increasing the sense of satisfaction of residents, based on the conventional method and the new strategy, gave the highest value. With a careful look, it can be concluded that strengthening the sense of satisfaction between residents happens when People problems in different sectors of livelihoods, including economic, social and cultural, have been considered more and, by presenting correct programs, have increased satisfaction and reduced migration to urban areas. In general, it can be concluded that due to the problems and solutions presented in this study, proper and applied planning should be used to compensate for the weaknesses and to strengthen the strengths as much as possible in the development of Asiabrood watershed.
Seyed Hamidreza Sadeghi; Zeinab Hazbavi; Mehdi Gholamalifard
Abstract
Developing an understandable and comprehensive conceptual model for watershed health assessment is one of the main priorities of many various managerial and policy making projects in the world including the mega project on the integrated watershed management of Iran. Towards this, the present study as ...
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Developing an understandable and comprehensive conceptual model for watershed health assessment is one of the main priorities of many various managerial and policy making projects in the world including the mega project on the integrated watershed management of Iran. Towards this, the present study as the pioneering research in the country has been conducted to customize the reliability, resilience and vulnerability (RelResVul) conceptual model based on hydrological data to assess watershed health. To this end, firstly the long-term data of discharge of the Shazand Watershed that located in Markazi Province was prepared and the flow duration curve was accordingly derived. Secondly, the appropriate thresholds of low and high flow discharges as prerequisites for watershed health assessment were applied to the RelResVul conceptual model. Hence, the reliability (Rel), resilience (Res) and vulnerability (Vul) indicators were calculated for four node years of 1986, 1998, 2008 and 2014. Finally, the general health state of the Shazand Watershed and its different sub-watersheds was zoned on the basis of two low and high flow discharge criteria through the geometric integrating of the mentioned indicators. The results showed that for the four study years respectively, 59, 53, 68 and 66 % of the watershed in terms of low flow discharge as well as 19, 22, 54 and 38 % of the Shazand Watershed in terms of high flow discharge were situated beyond relatively healthy state. The watershed health index assessment indicated the moderate and relatively healthy states with improving trend for low flow discharge criterion and moderate healthy state with constant trend for high flow discharge criterion. In addition, the results were verified the spatial changeability of watershed health state in different sub-watersheds for the study years.
Jamal Mosaffaie; Davood Nikkami; Amin Salehpour Jam
Abstract
In order to achieve sustainable development, planning an appropriate management program is essential. Watersheds are the main units of land management and the main objective of this paper is to review the history, current status and future management needs of these units in Iran. For this purpose, the ...
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In order to achieve sustainable development, planning an appropriate management program is essential. Watersheds are the main units of land management and the main objective of this paper is to review the history, current status and future management needs of these units in Iran. For this purpose, the concepts of watershed and watershed management were explained and organizational structure, activities and current approach to watershed management have been investigated. Four case studies of the approach and practices of watershed management in Iran and abroad were also mentioned (two internal samples and two external). The historic course of watershed management in Iran indicates that signs of changing approach are ongoing from a traditional mechanical to the systemic management approach. As a general conclusion for improving integrated management of watersheds in Iran, some suggestions were offered as follow: improving the current organizational structure of watershed management and establishing committees called watershed council, considering the scale of the watershed, applying a united and appropriate watershed management model, shifting the attitudes from technical engineering to managerial approaches toward the nature of watershed management, watershed participatory governance and establishing an unitary and coherent organizational structure.
Bahram Choubin; Karim Solaimani; Mahmoud Habibnejad Roshan; Arash Malekian
Abstract
Integrated watershed management and regeneralization of available information to ungauged basin needs to recognize homogeneous watersheds. The hydrologic similarity of watersheds is caused by the hydroclimate and physical behaviors. In present study, hydroclimate and physical indices were used for indicating ...
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Integrated watershed management and regeneralization of available information to ungauged basin needs to recognize homogeneous watersheds. The hydrologic similarity of watersheds is caused by the hydroclimate and physical behaviors. In present study, hydroclimate and physical indices were used for indicating the homogeneous sub-watersheds in Karkheh Watershed and then results were compared. Factor analysis to reduce in the dimension of variables was conducted, separately for climatic, hydrological and physical parameters. Finally, using Fuzzy c-means (FCM) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) homogeneous sub- watersheds were indicated by hydro-climate and physical parameters. Factor analysis results showed that indices of CSDI (cold spell duration index), GSL (growing season length), RX5day (monthly maximum consecutive 5-day precipitation), TX90p (percentage of days when daily maximum temperature is greater than 90th percentile) and TMAXmean (mean of maximum temperature) of climate indices, and indices of percent of hydrologica group D and flood potential index of hydrologic indices were selected. Also indices of basin area, basin elongation, average length of drainage and total topography between the physical parameters were selected. Comparing the results of the FCM and HCA indicated that the optimal number of clusters is same, but the results of watershed classification are not same in each cluster of two ways. Classification by hydroclimate and physical indices highlights that 25 and 27 basins were classified similar, respectively in two methods of clustering. Clustering by hydroclimate parameters produced different results compared with physical parameters, so that the 17 and 19 sub-basins are in the same classes in the FCM and HCA, respectively. However, there is no preference to accept watershed classification by hydroclimate or physical parameters, thus a combination of hydroclimate and physical parameters were used for classification. Watershed classification by the combination of hydroclimate and physical parameters indicated that 33 sub-basins were classified similar in both FCM and HCA methods. Classification in Karkheh basins based on the combination of physical and hydroclimate parameters revealed that the northern areas are in group 3, central regions (from east to west) are in group 2 and southern areas are in group 1. Inherently, these basins are similar in each group and demand the same protection operations in view of watershed management.
Saeed Najafi; Seyed Hamidreza Sadeghi; Tobias Heckmann
Abstract
Comprehensive watershed management programs need to take into account the sediment and related process in sediment management paradigm. Whilst, the dominant processes on sediment yield has not been considered in watershed scale yet. Accordingly, sediment connectivity is an emerging concept in sediment ...
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Comprehensive watershed management programs need to take into account the sediment and related process in sediment management paradigm. Whilst, the dominant processes on sediment yield has not been considered in watershed scale yet. Accordingly, sediment connectivity is an emerging concept in sediment management that has been accounted in recent years to investigate the sediment transfer from different sections of watersheds. Sediment connectivity is defined as the integrated transfer of sediment across all possible sources to all potential sinks in a system over the continuum of detachment, transport and deposition processes. The structural connectivity is therefore a concept derived from sediment connectivity which investigates potential of sediment particles displacement across a watershed on the base of anatomy of watershed's system. Naturally, identifying sectors with similar sediment connectivity patterns support applying similar and integrated sediment control mitigation strategies. The present research was planned to investigate the structural sediment connectivity in Taham Watershed in Zanjan Province for year 2014. To calculate the structural sediment connectivity, the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and C Factor layers were used and the results were assessed according to field observations and surveying in several times. The results of the validity of the structural sediment connectivity map showed there were acceptable agreement between Field Index of Connectivity (FIC) and Index of Connectivity (IC). In addition, IC map with respective max, min and mean values of 1.02, -8.24 and -5.95, showed 32 percent of the study area had a high structural sediment connectivity that generally have been dispersed in western parts of the study area. Regarding to rapid appraisal and being low cost of IC calculation as well as identification of primary sediment sources, the structural sediment connectivity is a very useful concept for sediment management of watersheds of Iran.
Houshang Jazi; Zeynab Karkehabadi; Saeid Kamyabi
Abstract
The 21st century will face the controversial debate on sustainable development with the priority of sustainable urban development. Urban planning has not paid enough attention to the sustainability of cities dependent on natural resources. The development of the city without regard to its watershed makes ...
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The 21st century will face the controversial debate on sustainable development with the priority of sustainable urban development. Urban planning has not paid enough attention to the sustainability of cities dependent on natural resources. The development of the city without regard to its watershed makes no sense. Urban strategies have focused on the implementation of static plans, followed by the modernist school, and the need for the interconnection, sustainability, and vitality of urban watersheds, which are the city's feeding vessels, has not been addressed. This research was conducted with the main purpose of explaining the sustainable development strategies of Garmsar city based on integrated management of urban watershed by understanding the factors affecting the stability of the watershed and analyzing the causal relationships of urban sustainability in the operation with Halbehrood watershed stability factors. The research method is descriptive-analytical and collecting the information required for research through library studies and field observations. In order to analyze the information, the DPSIR environmental evaluation model, the AHP model and the SWOT model have been run integrated to determine the best sustainable development strategies of the Garmsar city. The results of the studies showed that Garmsar city is not sustainable as a city dependent on urban watershed and it is not sustainable in terms of providing necessary resources of the basin, but the sustainability of the watershed and the Garmsar city is possible through the implementation of Strategies appropriate to existing resources. Based on the results of quantitative and analytical matrix analysis, eight of the main identified strategies were prioritized. Among them, the development of a joint program for water, agriculture and natural resources in order to explain the effective measures of the chain of production, distribution, and use of water in the upstream lands is the first priority.
Davood Nikkami; Hadi Chamheydar; Mohammad Hossein Mahdian; Ebrahim Pazira
Abstract
Environmental and economic impacts of soil erosion are due to improper land management in a watershed. Although it is impossible to stop soil erosion completely under natural conditions, there is a great need to control erosion for proper land use planning. According to the scarcity of literature in ...
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Environmental and economic impacts of soil erosion are due to improper land management in a watershed. Although it is impossible to stop soil erosion completely under natural conditions, there is a great need to control erosion for proper land use planning. According to the scarcity of literature in the area of soil nutrient evaluation with optimization models, the main objective of this research is determining the optimum level of land uses to minimize soil erosion and nutrients losses and maximize people incomes that live in a watershed. For this purpose, Abolabbas Watershed in the north-eastern part of Khouzestan Province was chosen for this research. A linear programming model was used in three different scenarios including current land use condition without land management, current land use condition with land management and standardized land use condition. Results demonstrated that the current land uses are not optimized for the least soil erosion and nutrient losses and high income. At optimized conditions, the area of forests and orchards increased by 1.81 and 55.7% respectively, rangelands with no changes, and irrigated and drylands decreased by 67.5 and 31.4% respectively. Also, results showed that land use optimization, in current land uses with no land management, decreases total soil erosion by 3.2% and total nutrient soil losses by 2.5 and increases total income by 29.7%, in current land uses with land management, decreases total soil erosion by 35.3% and total nutrient soil losses by 70.2 and increases total income by 37.2%, and in standardized land uses, total soil erosion by 47.2% and total nutrient soil losses by 70.4 and increases total income by 41.8%. Sensitivity analysis, also, showed that the change in the area of orchards and Irrigated lands has the most effects on increasing income and decreasing soil erosion and nutrients losses in Abolabbas watershed.
