Spatial Heterogeneity of Ecological Security of Samian Watershed, Ardabil Province

Subject Areas : Regional Planning

Zeinab Hazbavi ¹ , Leyla Babaei ² , Shirin Zareie ³ , Nazila Alaei ⁴ , Raheleh Malekian ⁵

1 - Assistant Professor, Department of Rangeland and Watershed Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Member of Water Management Research Center, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
2 - Ph.D. Student, Watershed Management Engineering and Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
3 - Former M.Sc. Student, Watershed Management Engineering, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Ardabil, Iran.
4 - Ph.D. Student, Watershed Management Engineering and Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
5 - Ph.D., Senior Expert, Water Studies Section of National Agriculture and Water Strategic Research Center, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2021-02-14 Accepted : 2021-05-01 Published : 2022-12-22

Keywords: Spatial Pattern, Resource balance, Watershed degradation, Ecological security supply,

Abstract :

The ecological security of the watershed depends on the land capacity and the level of demand expected to ensure the survival of the population living in it and and its regional assessment is necessary to advance the strategic planning and poliy-making. Towards this, the aim of this study was to analyze the heterogeneity of ecological security of the Samian Watershed located in the center of Ardabil Province. Accordingly, a comprehensive evaluation method based on the analysis of various dimensions of supply and demand of material and spiritual security for 27 sub-watersheds was conceptualized and implemented. It was found that the mean value of both supply and demand indicators of ecological security in the whole watershed are equal to 0.53. In general, this watershed has marginal security. However, in terms of spatial heterogeneity, the maximum value of the ecological security index (0.49) was allocated to sub-watershed 22 located in the central part of the watershed. One of the general features of this sub-watershed is the existence of the irrigated agriculture, which has caused the region to be at a high level in terms of ecological security and supplied the demands of region population. Also, the minimum value of this index (-0.43) is related to sub-watershed 27 located in the northwest. The Ardabil City, the capital of Ardabil Province, is located in this sub-watershed, and the urban nature and lack of agriculture, forest, and garden land use are among the characteristics of this sub-watershed, which has led to the sub-watershed being in an unsafe situation. The spatial distribution of the ecological security index showed that 12, 51, 33, and 4% of the region, respectively characterized by security, marginal security, marginal insecurity, and insecurity states cover.

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