Author/Authors :
Hamdami، Ghasem نويسنده MSc graduated in watershed management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources , , Sasanifar، Samira نويسنده M.Sc. student in forestry, Tehran University , , Akbari، Hossein نويسنده MSc graduated in watershed management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources ,
Abstract :
Improper use of land resources by not having enough attention to the land capability, will be resulted in destruction of the ecosystem. Land use planning is the process of determining the best use of the land, according to its ecological and socio-economic characteristics. In a case study in Farsian watershed in North of Iran, the Makhdum Systematic Analyses (MSA) model, have been used to assess the capability of the area and land use planning. Therefor, the ecological maps of the area, including elevation bands, slope, aspect, soil characteristics, Vegetation type and Vegetation density, have been overlaid on GIS environment, and produced 84 environmental land units. Then, capability of these units has been evaluated for six types of land use, including forestry, agriculture, rangeland, extensive tourism, aquaculture, residential area and conservation. Finally, considering the ecological capabilities and potential socio-economic problems of the area, land use planning of the area conducted. Based on the results, 5.1%, 3.8%, 90.2%, 0.7% and 0.3% of the total watershed area were allocated to agriculture and range management, extensive tourism, forestry, aquaculture and residential area, respectively. Since most of the study area was recognized to be suitable for forestry, measures should be implemented to prevent forest degradation and clear cutting. We can introduce alternative land-uses to preserve forests and insure socio-economic life of native people of the watersheds at the same time. According to the results, aquaculture and tourism are two new land uses which predicted to the study area.
