In collaboration with Iranian Watershed Management Association

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D Student of Watershed Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran

2 Ph.D students of Watershed Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran

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 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.

Keywords

Abyaa, H., Nasiri, M., Ebrahimi, M., Movaheda, A., 2015. Strategic planning for the tourism industry using SWOT and QSPM. Manag. Sci. Lett. 5(3), 295-300.
Afkhami, H., 2018. Presenting an appropriate management strategy using the combined QSPM-SWOT model with the aim of organizing nomads, case study: nomadic tribe of Gud Arab Taheri Tabas. J. Watershed Manag. Res. 6(23), 40-50 (in Persian).
Ahmadifard, N., Darabkhani, R., 2020. Designing strategies of tourism development using SWOT-ANP technique, case study: historical context of Tehran Metropolis. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 22(8), 127-137 (in Persian).
Chamani, R., Vafakhah, M., Sadeghi, S.H., 2022. Changes in reliability–resilience–vulnerability-based watershed health under climate change scenarios in the Efin Watershed, Iran. Nat. Hazards 1-20.
Chamani, R., Vafakhah, M., Sadeghi, S.H.R., 2023. Effect of drought on temporal-spatial changes of the Efin Watershed health. Watershed Manag. Res. 15(1), 1-12 (in Persian).
Chang, H., Huang, W., 2006. Application of a quantification SWOT analytical method. Math. Comput. Model. 43, 158-169.
Chezgi, J., Nezhad, H.M., Ekhtesasi, M.R., Nakhei, M., 2018. Providing a comprehensive and appropriate strategy for the construction of an underground dam using the SWOT model QSPM matrix, a case study: Keriyan Watershed. J. Water Soil Sci. 22(1), 187-197 (in Persian).
Cui, J., Allan, A., Lin, D., 2019. SWOT analysis and development strategies for underground pedestrian systems. Tunn. Undergr. Space Technol. 87, 127-133.
Ganjali, S., Ghasemi, H., Hosseini Qomi, M.H., 2013. Environmental and strategic analysis of the comprehensive management plan of Urmia Lake Watershed. J. Wetl. Ecol. Manag. 22(5), 41-48 (in Persian).
Ghorbani, M., Salimi Kochaki, J., Ebrahimi, P., Rasekhi, S., 2019. The application of network analysis in identifying the key actors of the network of local stakeholders in order to establish the participatory management of natural resources, study area: Sarayan Watershed, South Khorasan Province. Pastu.  Watershed, J. Nat. Resou. Iran 72(1), 213-226 (in Persian).
Hob EVatan, M., Heydari, N., Jafari, B., Arshadi, M., Lotfi, S., Zarghami, M., 2021. Strategic analysis for the better performance and more authority of Iran’s supreme water council using SWOT method. Iran Water Resour. Res. 16(4), 15-30 (in Persian).
Jafari Shirko, S., Dezhkam, Y,. Alavian Petroudi, S., Yaqoubzadeh, M., Danehkar, A., 2012. Compilation of management strategies for the protection of Miankala Wetland using analysis. Wetland Eco. biology 5(16), 5-18.
Kahraman, C., Demirel, N.C., Demirel, T., 2007. Prioritization of e-government strategies using a SWOT-AHP analysis: the case of Turkey. Eur. J. Inf. Syst. 16(3), 284-298.
Karami, F., Panahi, H., Ghanadi, N., 2015. Prioritization of tourism development strategies in Ahar City using the model. SWOT-QSPM Geo. Tourism Space 5(18), 21-42.
Mahdavi, E., Rahmani, B., 2022. Developing a strategy to improve the economy of border cities using the SWOT model, case example: Qasr Shirin. Scienti. Res. Quart. J. Environ. Studi. 56, 110-126 (in Persian).
Maroufi, S., Rahmatipour, A., 2015. Planning, formulation and prioritization of sustainable development strategies of Sanghar Plain water resources using SWOT analytical model. 6th National Conference on Water Resources Management of Iran, Kurdistan, University of Kurdistan (in Persian).
MolaeI Hashtjin, N., Zahedi Dafchahi, K., 2010. Integrated rural development planning using SWOT analytical model in Khammam district of Rasht City. Rural Res. Quart. 1(22), 133-154.
Moradi, E., Khosravi, H., Zehtabian, GH., Khaleghi-Sigaroodi, S., 2020. Vulnerability assessment of land degradation using network analysis process and geographic information system, case study: Maharloo-Bakhtegan Watershed. Iran Water Soil Res. 51(5), 1069-1080 (in Persian).
Mousavizadeh, S.R., Khorrami, S., Bahreman, M., 2015. Presenting a strategic plan of integrated water resources management by using SWOT in Bushehr Province. Int. J. Opera. Logist. Manag. 4(1), 27-42.
Naroie, A., Piri Sahragard, H., Rigi, M., 2020. Developing management strategies for sustainable use of pastures using multi-criteria evaluation methods and SWOT analysis, case study: Taftan pastures, Khash City. Mart. Scienti. J. 14(1), 132-146.
Naserianasl, Z., Ghazavi, R., Sayyad, D., 2021. Presenting and prioritizing the management strategies of sustainable ecotourism development in Vennaei Watershed using SWOT and QSPM analytical matrix. Geogr. Environ. Sustain. 11(2), 105-119.
Nikolaou, I.E., Evangelinos, K.I., 2010. A SWOT analysis of environmental management practices in Greek mining and mineral industry. Resour. Policy 35, 226-234.
Omidi, A., Hasanzad Navroodi, I., Ghajar, E., Yousefpour, R., 2020. Determining appropriate strategies for management of Hyrcanian forests, using the quantitative strategic planning matrix, case study: Siahkal Forests. J. For. Res. Dev. 6(2), 329-345.
Pohekar, S.D., Ramachandran, M., 2004. Application of multi-criteria decision making to sustainable energy planning. A review. Renew. Sust. Energ. 8(1), 365-381
Rahmani, B., Shams, M., Hatami Far, S., 2010. Feasibility of tourism development in Malair City using SWOT model. Quart. J. Geo. Environ. Studi. 1(3), 13-25.
Rajabi, M.R., Nasirikhiyavi, A., Kalehouei, M., Mehri, A., Mumzaei, A., Haji, Kh., Khaledi, A.V.D., 2020. Prioritization of integrated watershed management strategies according to the number of strengths and opportunities in the SWOT analysis. J. Engin. Watershed Manage. 13(2), 295-302.
Sadeghi, S.H.R., Khaledi Darvishan, A., Vafakhah, M., Moradi Rekabdarkolaei, H., Nasiri Khiavi, A., Rajabi, M.R., Naeimi, S.M., Pournabi, S., Ebrahimi Gatgesh, Z., Zaki, S.A., 2021. Integrated and problem-based management of the watershed using strategic planning framework. Iran. J. Watershed Manage. Sci. Engin. 15(52), 63-66 (in Persian).
Vakili Tejareh, F., 2017. Analysis of strategic management of urban runoff in Tehran Watershed with SWOT approach. International Society and Environment Conference, Tehran, University of Tehran (in Persian).