Ehsan Fathi; MohammadReza Ekhtesasi; Ali Talebi; jamal mosaffaie
Abstract
Introduction and Objective: Understanding the damages and their causes in watersheds is a fundamental and essential step in watershed management, setting the stage for identifying suitable solutions and implementing targeted actions in these areas. The objective of this study is to explore management ...
Read More
Introduction and Objective: Understanding the damages and their causes in watersheds is a fundamental and essential step in watershed management, setting the stage for identifying suitable solutions and implementing targeted actions in these areas. The objective of this study is to explore management responses to improve the health of the watershed using the DPSIR approach.Materials and Methods: To this end, factors associated with each component of the DPSIR framework were initially identified through library research, resource review, and field visits to the watershed. A survey was conducted with 20 experts and 20 watershed residents based on the Likert scale, and then the Friedman test was used to prioritize the items from the perspective of experts and residents.Findings: According to the results, five driving forces in the watershed have created 34 pressures on watershed resources, which in turn have led to 11 unfavorable conditions in the watershed. These conditions have also resulted in 20 unintended impacts. Additionally, 32 management responses were proposed to improve the current situation. A matrix of relationships among the factors for each main component of the DPSIR framework and their prioritization from the viewpoints of both groups, experts and stakeholders, was conducted. The results showed a match of 40% among the top priorities, with a 50% match for driving forces, 69% for pressures, 80% for state, 75% for impact, and 84% for response.Discussion and Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the DPSIR approach serves as an effective framework for analyzing the causes and consequences of environmental and watershed resource issues. By identifying the root causes of problems, it provides appropriate management responses, enabling decision-makers and planners to develop comprehensive watershed management programs.
Zobeideh Bidaki
Abstract
Extended abstract
Introduction
Nowadays, the importance of water and soil resource management and environmental conservation has become one of the main concerns in developmental planning. Watershed management, as a comprehensive approach for sustainable management and utilization of water and soil ...
Read More
Extended abstract
Introduction
Nowadays, the importance of water and soil resource management and environmental conservation has become one of the main concerns in developmental planning. Watershed management, as a comprehensive approach for sustainable management and utilization of water and soil resources, plays a crucial role in improving the environmental, economic, and social conditions of various regions. The Baghamch Watershed in Chenaran County, with its unique geographical and climatic characteristics, has become one of the key areas for implementing watershed management projects. This area, with its valuable natural resources, particularly surface and groundwater, is highly impacted by climate change and human activities. Therefore, the improvement and preservation of these resources through effective watershed management measures not only contribute to environmental conservation but also have significant effects on enhancing the economic and social conditions of local communities. Watershed management can help improve rural livelihoods and strengthen the local economy by mitigating the negative effects of floods and droughts, improving soil and water quality, and creating new job opportunities. In this regard, understanding and evaluating these impacts in the Baghamch Watershed can serve as a model for similar regions and provide valuable information to policymakers and natural resource managers. This article examines the effects of watershed management on the improvement of the economic and social conditions of local communities in the Baghamch Watershed and aims to contribute to a clearer understanding of the benefits and challenges of this approach in sustainable development through data analysis and the outcomes of watershed management projects. It is hoped that the results of this study will help enhance management processes and improve the quality of life in local communities.
Materials and methods
This research was conducted with the aim of examining the effects of watershed management on the improvement of the economic and social conditions of local communities in the Baghamch Watershed of Chenaran County. Accordingly, the improvement of economic conditions was assessed using 15 items, and the improvement of social conditions was evaluated using 11 items, both of which were included in a questionnaire. The research method was documentary, and for the completion of the questionnaire, a survey method was employed. The statistical population consisted of 50 individuals selected as a convenient sample. The measurement tool was a questionnaire, whose reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.851. Using SPSS software, the data extracted from the questionnaires were analyzed. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, variance, and skewness, were utilized to determine the extent of the effects of watershed management on improving the economic and social conditions of local communities in the Baghamch Watershed of Chenaran County.
Results and discussion
Considering the topic, watershed management in the Baghamch Watershed area has been able to, among the items related to the improvement of economic conditions mentioned in the questionnaire, significantly increase investment motivation in the agricultural sector, enhance the economic value of agricultural lands and orchards, and boost groundwater recharge, leading to an increase in the number of agricultural wells. These aspects were found to have the most impact. Among the items related to the improvement of social conditions, watershed management has effectively controlled and prevented flood damage to homes, agricultural lands, and orchards, and has also contributed to reducing poverty and unemployment in the village. Additionally, the participation of villagers can have a significant impact on the efficiency and success of watershed management operations in preserving and managing water and soil resources. Overall, the results showed that watershed management had a slightly greater impact on improving social conditions, with an average score of 2.587, compared to economic conditions, which had an average score of 2.502, in the local communities of the Baghamch Watershed.
Conclusions
The research results indicated that watershed management can be effective in the conservation and management of natural resources, including water and soil. In this context, the role of local communities should not be overlooked, as the participation of villagers can significantly influence the efficiency and success of watershed management operations in conserving and managing water and soil resources. In fact, the level of public participation in these projects largely depends on their satisfaction. The implementation of watershed management operations has led to improvements in economic conditions, such as increased cultivated land and agricultural and orchard areas, enhanced agricultural and orchard production, a rise in livestock numbers and pasture restoration, increased groundwater income, higher economic value of agricultural lands, and greater investment motivation, as well as the creation of job opportunities. Furthermore, watershed management operations have improved social conditions, including reduced migration rates, decreased poverty and unemployment, minimized flood damage to lands, homes, and communication routes, improved living standards, better tourism conditions, increased villagers' participation in implementation and supervision, heightened awareness of water management, and reduced social tensions in local communities.
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 ...
Read More
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.
Afrouz Bagheri; Bahram Malekmohammdi; Banafsheh Zahraei; Amirhesam Hassani; Farzam Babaei
Abstract
The formulation of strategies for sustainable groundwater resources needs an integrated view of land-use, climate changes, social system, and the response of the hydrological system. Negligence in creating a balance between these variables in charging and discharging groundwater resources has led to ...
Read More
The formulation of strategies for sustainable groundwater resources needs an integrated view of land-use, climate changes, social system, and the response of the hydrological system. Negligence in creating a balance between these variables in charging and discharging groundwater resources has led to problems such as land subsidence, saline water advancement, reduced water quality, increased pumping costs, etc. in most of the country aquifers. In this study, the Lenjanat region was selected as a case study and one of the important regions of the Zayandehrud Watershed due to its interaction with the river, the existence of land-use changes, and increasing harvest from the regional aquifer. The results of temperature and precipitation prediction in an optimistic and pessimistic scenario until 2035 by the LARS Model and the results of examining past and future land-use changes and calculating the impact factor (adjustment coefficient) using IDRISI SELVA, ENVI, and CA-Markov were included in the study model (a combination of WEAP and ANFIS) to investigate future runoff and its contribution to aquifer recharge. The results showed that both climate and land-use changes have some impacts on water resources. In the case study, the amount of runoff decreases due to the decrease in rainfall and increase in temperature, and runoff infiltration, and subsequent feeding and groundwater level decrease due to land-use changes and increase in groundwater abstraction. The average rainfall volume was estimated at 194.17 million cubic meters in the observed years, of which 99 million cubic meters rechrged the aquifer. The average volume of groundwater supply after the effect of an adjustment coefficient of 1.051 was predicted in the optimistic scenario of 10.09 and the pessimistic scenario of 93.72 million cubic meters, respectively.
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 ...
Read More
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.
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 ...
Read More
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.
Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib; Marina Ezzati amini; Mohammadhadi Shabestari
Abstract
Changing in urban life, climate change and successive droughts and floods have caused the issue of restoration of rivers to become one of the most important environmental issues and water resources problems. In recent years, the lack of attention to environmental issues, improper exploitation of water ...
Read More
Changing in urban life, climate change and successive droughts and floods have caused the issue of restoration of rivers to become one of the most important environmental issues and water resources problems. In recent years, the lack of attention to environmental issues, improper exploitation of water resources, ignoring sustainable development, changes in natural structure and channelization of urban river have created undesirable conditions for urban rivers. This study tries to develop and select the best strategy to achieve river restoration by considering six sustainable development criteria and using the hybrid model of Analytical Hierarchy Process and Modified Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (M-TOPSIS-AHP) and taking into account two goals of quantitative and qualitative restoration of base flow and securing against flood. The required data was collected through survey forms that have been filled by 38 experts in the field of water resources management. The inconsistency rates of surveys forms were investigated and inconsistent forms were removed. Then the pairwise comparison of AHP method was used to obtain the relative weights and finally the strategies were ranked by TOPSIS method and the best strategy was introduced.
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 ...
Read More
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.
Ahmad Nohegar; Arash Malekian; Majid Hosseini; Arashk Holisaz; Edris Taghvaye Salimi
Abstract
Two factors of cost and time are related directly to the accurate estimate of runoff in the watersheds. More detailed information on the status of rainfall runoff also facilitate decisions on future programs for watershed managers, a step towards the preservation of natural resources for sustainable ...
Read More
Two factors of cost and time are related directly to the accurate estimate of runoff in the watersheds. More detailed information on the status of rainfall runoff also facilitate decisions on future programs for watershed managers, a step towards the preservation of natural resources for sustainable development. In this study, in order to achieve optimal amount of runoff in the Shafaroud watershed, first significant rainfall data of four stations during 1998 to 2011 were collected and combined with other maps of the study area, such as DEM, land use and soil as input data in the form of SWAT model was software. After running the model, the SUFI-2 and GLUE algorithms in SWAT-CUP program used to evaluate the data uncertainty and the most accurate simulation. The first three years (1998-2000) of rainfall data for warm-up and the next 7 years (2001-2007) for the calibration and final 4 years (2008-2011) were used for the validation. Finally, with multiple simulations, the uncertainty of the parameters assessed with P-factor, R-factor, and NS coefficients. The results indicated in runoff simulation, the SUFI2 algorithm ( =0.85, NS=0.74) is more accurate than GLUE algorithm ( =0.82, NS=0.71).
